Pediatric Feeding Therapy for Swallowing Disordersin San Ramon, Livermore, and Tracy, CA
Does your child frequently cough, gag, or choke while eating or drinking? Do meals take a long time, or does their voice sound wet or gurgly afterward? These may be signs of a swallowing disorder that can make eating and drinking uncomfortable or stressful for your child.
At Language Essentials, our pediatric feeding therapists provide individualized care to help your child eat more safely, get the nutrition they need, and feel more comfortable during meals.
What Is a Swallowing Disorder?
A swallowing disorder, also known as dysphagia, makes it difficult for your child to move food or liquid safely from their mouth to their stomach. The difficulty may occur as your child chews and prepares to swallow, as food or liquid moves through their throat, or after it enters their esophagus.
Swallowing disorders may begin in infancy or develop due to a medical condition, injury, developmental delay, or differences in muscle strength or how the mouth and throat work together. Swallowing difficulties may also occur alongside sensory sensitivities that can make certain foods difficult for your child to tolerate and limit the variety of foods they eat.
Signs Your Child May Have a Swallowing Disorder
Signs vary based on your child’s age and where the difficulty occurs. Your child may:
- Cough, choke, or gag while eating or drinking
- Take a long time to finish meals
- Have difficulty chewing or moving food around their mouth
- Hold food in their mouth or cheeks
- Drool excessively or allow food or liquid to escape from their mouth
- Develop a wet or gurgly voice during or after meals
- Eat only a limited range of familiar foods
- Avoid foods because of their texture, taste, smell, temperature, or appearance
- Have difficulty gaining weight or getting adequate nutrition
How Pediatric Feeding Therapy Helps With Swallowing Disorders
At Language Essentials, feeding therapy begins with an evaluation of how your child chews, drinks, swallows, and manages different foods and textures. Based on the results, their therapist develops an individualized plan that may help them:
- Improve how the muscles in their mouth and throat work together to chew and swallow safely
- Practice techniques that make swallowing food and liquid easier and more comfortable
- Learn to sit with their body properly supported during meals
- Become more comfortable chewing and swallowing a wider variety of foods and textures
Our therapists also share tips and activities you can use at home to help your child build the skills they need to chew and swallow more safely and comfortably during family mealtimes.
Why Choose Language Essentials
Since 2008, Language Essentials has helped children ages 18 months through 17 with swallowing difficulties throughout Northern California. We take pride in creating a compassionate, caring atmosphere and keeping feeding activities engaging and enjoyable. Our goal is to help your child eat and drink more safely and confidently, improve nutrition, and make mealtimes a more positive experience for your whole family.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
If you are concerned about how your child eats or swallows, contact Language Essentials at (925) 743-3322 for a free 15-minute consultation or fill out our online contact form to schedule an evaluation.
