Mealtimes and feeding
Our mealtimes team can assist with managing difficulties with eating or drinking including swallowing (dysphagia), food refusal and sensory issues, and disordered eating.
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What is it and why do I need it?
Family mealtimes can be a great way to bond with your child and teach them healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
However, sometimes mealtimes can be challenging.
You may also have concerns about the limited range of foods and quantities that your child is eating.
We know the importance of nourishment, and the significant effects that food has on development, moods, behaviour, concentration, and overall health.
Yet, despite your best efforts your child’s eating a food intake may be insubstantial.
How can we help?
Eating is a complex physical task, especially for children.
Our speech and language pathologists can assess and identify any developmental challenges, structural or medical issues or environmental conditions that may be hindering successful mealtimes.
We’ll provide you with a plan on how to tackle feeding challenges for better outcomes.
Our therapy plans may include other therapists including occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, or dietitians depending on the feeding challenges identified in the assessment.
Or we can assist you with referrals to other medical professionals where required.
Causes of mealtime struggles
A variety of factors can be the cause of mealtime struggles, including:
- Experience with reflux
- Negative associations with the mealtime environment such as with a highchair
- Negative associations with feeding such as choking experiences
- Medical reasons such as constipation
- Sensory issues with tastes, textures, and smells
- Difficulties chewing and/or swallowing
- Food refusal and aversions
An assessment can help to identify what factors may be causing mealtime distress and address them with tailored therapies to help overcome your child’s challenges and increase your family’s enjoyment of food and mealtimes.
Program structure
When you seek support from Early Start Australia, we begin with an intake session where a therapist will meet with parents and carers (without the child) and discuss the child’s full history and gain an understanding of the mealtime challenges.
The therapist will suggest assessment options which will, in most cases, occur over 2 sessions with a speech pathologist.
After the assessment, the therapist will produce a report on the findings, identifying challenges, strengths, and areas for development.
The speech pathologist will make recommendations on the types of therapy required and help you engage with medical professionals if a medical issue is identified.
Therapy programs can vary greatly depending on the child’s needs, from 1:1 support from a speech pathologist or support from a range of therapists such as occupational therapists and dietitians to group therapy programs.
We’ll work with you to develop a tailored therapy plan that works with your child and family’s goals in mind.
Book now
Book now with one of our speech therapists as part of a multidisciplinary team and start your therapy journey now.
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We have clinics in every state and territory providing assessments, early childhood intervention therapies, and support to help you thrive.
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Our multi-disciplinary team works together with you to understand your child’s needs. From there, we’ll develop a plan with evidence-based strategies. Work with us to achieve your goals and enjoy a better quality of life.
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