Feeding Therapy

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 Feeding therapy helps individuals develop the skills needed to eat and drink safely, comfortably, and adequately. Feeding challenges can affect nutrition, growth, health, and family routines, and they often require specialized support.

Feeding therapy focuses on both the physical skills of eating and the sensory, behavioral, and emotional components that impact feeding.

 Feeding therapy is typically provided by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and/or an Occupational Therapist (OT) with specialized training in feeding and swallowing.

Feeding therapy may address:

• How a child eats 
• What foods they accept 
• How safely they chew and swallow 
• How sensory experiences affect feeding
   

Therapy is individualized and designed to support safe nutrition while gradually expanding skills and tolerance.

Feeding therapy may focus on:

• Chewing and swallowing skills 
• Oral motor strength and coordination 
• Transitioning textures (purees to solids, soft foods to table foods) 
• Food variety and acceptance 
• Sensory tolerance related to food 
• Mealtime behaviors and routines 
• Bottle or cup drinking skills 
• Reducing gagging, choking, or refusal 
• Safety with feeding
   

Goals are functional and tailored to the child’s developmental level and medical needs.

 Feeding therapy may be recommended for individuals who:

• Have difficulty chewing or swallowing 
• Are extremely selective or restrictive with foods 
• Experience gagging, choking, or coughing during meals 
• Have poor weight gain or nutritional concerns 
• Have oral aversions or sensory sensitivities 
• Have diagnoses such as autism, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, or medical complexity 
• Have feeding challenges following illness, surgery, or prolonged tube feeding
   

Feeding therapy is based on functional feeding concerns, not diagnosis alone.

Feeding therapy can be delivered in several settings, depending on the child’s needs and safety considerations, including:

• Outpatient therapy clinics 
• In-home therapy 
• EIDT or center-based programs (when feeding therapy is offered) 
• Medical or hospital-based settings
   

The setting is chosen based on medical complexity, safety needs, and the child’s tolerance for environments.

Learn more about Settings

 Feeding therapy is most commonly provided by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and may also involve an Occupational Therapist (OT) depending on the nature of the feeding concern.

The therapist is responsible for:

• Feeding and swallowing evaluations 
• Developing safe, individualized treatment plans 
• Monitoring progress and safety 
• Educating families on strategies to use at home
   

In complex cases, feeding therapy may be part of a multidisciplinary team that includes medical providers and dietitians.

Feeding therapy may be covered through:

• Medicaid, including TEFRA when applicable 
• Private insurance 
• ARKids 
• School-based services, in limited cases when feeding impacts educational access
   

Coverage depends on medical necessity, safety concerns, and service setting. An autism diagnosis is not required for feeding therapy to be covered by Medicaid in Arkansas.

Many children receive feeding therapy alongside other therapies such as speech, occupational, or physical therapy.

 Explore therapy funding options in Arkansas

 It’s important to understand that:

• Feeding therapy addresses skill-based, safety-based, or medical feeding challenges 
• Typical picky eating does not always require therapy
   

A feeding evaluation can help determine whether therapy is appropriate and what level of support is needed.

 Feeding therapy can be highly beneficial, but it should be:

• Individualized 
• Developmentally appropriate 
• Focused on safety and nutrition 
• Implemented with family collaboration
   

Families should never feel pressured to pursue feeding therapy without understanding the goals and approach.

 We’re currently building provider pages to help families:

• Find feeding therapy providers by location 
• Compare therapy settings and approaches 
• Understand accepted insurance and funding sources
   

Feeding therapy provider listings coming soon.