Feeding Therapy
Serving Children with Feeding and Swallowing Difficulty in select areas across the United States.
Proudly providing virtual therapy services to families in select areas of the United States. TeleBites was founded by a Pediatric Speech Pathologist and Feeding Specialist with a background in treating children with feeding and swallowing impairment age birth through adulthood. Our licensed and credentialed pediatric feeding specialists bring our expertise to the comfort and safety of your home.
Pediatric Feeding Therapy
Allergies and dietary sensitivity
According to the Food Allergy Research and Education Foundation, one out of every thirteen children has a food allergy. When a child has a food allergy, their immune system overreacts, producing antibodies to the food as if it were a virus or other potentially dangerous foreign body. Click Here for more.
ARFID
ARFID is most common in infants and children, as it is the second most common eating disorder in children aged 12 and under, with boys being more likely to develop ARFID.ARFID is sometimes referred to as an "umbrella" term because it encompasses a wide range of difficulties.
Aspiration
Aspiration is defined as the entry of food, liquids, or other foreign bodies beneath the vocal folds (aka. “voice box”) and into the trachea (aka “windpipe”) leading to the lungs. It can occur as a symptom in children and is sometimes associated with other diagnoses such as structural abnormalities, genetic disorders, and neuromuscular disorders. Click Here for more.
Cleft lip and palate
In the United States, cleft lip and palate is the fourth most common birth defects, affecting one in every 1,000 babies each year. According to the CDC, when a baby's lip or mouth does not develop properly or closes fully during pregnancy, it is known as cleft lip and palate. Click Here for more.
Difficulty tolerating new/advanced diet textures
Coughing and Choking
During the developmental process, children improve their ability to tolerate and consume increasing complex textures. For some children, these transitions between purees and dissolvable foods to mashable and eventually chewy foods can be challenging or unmanageable. Click Here for more.
Sometimes coughing or choking is normal for children, but if it occurs often while eating or drinking and they are having trouble swallowing according to Stanford Children's Health it could be a more serious condition such as Dysphagia or GERD. Click Here for more.
Dysphagia
Gagging or vomiting during meals
Food refusals
Infants and children must be able to consume enough energy and nutrients on a consistent and safe basis in order to reach their linear and neurological growth potential. Swallowing problems (dysphagia) are any disruptions in the swallow sequence that jeopardize the safety, efficiency, or adequacy of nutritional intake. Click Here for more.
Gagging is a normal, natural reflex action that serves as a built-in safety mechanism to keep you from choking. It's a common reaction in infants who are transitioning from smooth to lumpy foods or learning to chew. It can be triggered by fingers, food, or toys touching the back of the mouth.Click Here for more.
As children grow and develop, so do their eating habits. The number of foods in a child’s diet is expected to increase with developmental age. Food refusal is a serious feeding problem in which children refuse to eat all or most foods presented and exhibit problems with growth. Click Here for more.
Laryngomalacia
Laryngomalacia is the most common congenital laryngeal anomaly and the most common cause of stridor during breathing in infants, accounting for approximately 75% of infants with stridor. Stridor is a medical term that means "noisy breathing." Click Here for more.
Oral motor deficits
Children learn and master a wide range of developmental skills as they grow, including oral motor skills, which are not fully developed until around the age of six or seven. Oral motor skills are necessary for proper eating and overall functioning. Click Here for more.
Picky eating
Picky eating is typically categorized as part of a range of feeding difficulties. Picky eating is generally defined as a refusal to try new foods entirely, as well as having strong food preferences and avoiding some familiar foods. Click Here for more.
Poor bottle feeding
If you suspect your baby isn't getting enough milk (breast milk or formula), you'll understandably be worried. It may be difficult to determine the cause of your baby's squirming, fussing, cries, or refusal to eat when he or she seems distressed during feeds. Click Here for more.
Sensory based feeding disorders
Tube feeding dependency
Feeding disorders may be caused by a variety of factors, including oral motor, medical, sensory, and behavioral factors. Feeding problems affect 25-35 percent of children who are otherwise developing normally and 40-70 percent of children who have developmental delays or chronic medical conditions. Click Here for more.
Intake of adequate calories and nutrients is necessary in order to survive and grow. Many acute and chronic childhood illnesses can lead to nutritional deficiencies, and enteral feeding may be needed when nutritional measures are inadequate to meet the child's nutritional needs. Click Here for more.
Does my child have a pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)?
Feeding and swallowing impairment in children is one of the most challenging things that parents will ever experience. Find out what is normal and when to get help from a feeding specialist.
