Feeding Difficulties

Feeding difficulties include problems gathering food and getting ready to chew and eat. For example, a child who cannot pick up food and get it to her mouth or cannot completely close her lips to keep food from falling out of her mouth may have feeding difficulty.

The following are signs of feeding difficulties in young children:
arching or stiffening of the body during feeding
irritability or lack of alertness during feeding
refusing food or liquid
failure to accept different textures of food
long feeding times
difficulty chewing
coughing or gagging during meals
excessive drooling
difficulty coordinating breathing with eating
increased stuffiness during meals
hoarse voice quality
frequent spitting up
recurring pneumonia or respiratory infections
less than normal weight gain or growth

children may be at risk for:
dehydration
poor nutrition
aspiration
pneumonia
repeated upper respiratory infections that can lead to chronic lung disease
embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating

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If you would like to see if we can help here is our information: Occupational Therapy for children is a therapeutic skilled service that focuses on independence for a child and their family. If a child is having difficulty with cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills, Occupational Therapy is a service that can help.

Kids in Stride - Therapy designed for Kids
Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy
2810 W. Us Hwy 64 Suite 2
Murphy, NC 28906
828-516-1700
https://kidsinstride.weebly.com