Feeding Therapy

Balance Autism - Metro West's Eating/Feeding Program uses a family-centered approach that includes the family in an individualized evaluation and intervention program to help your child learn to eat a variety of textures and a range of foods. Strategies and education to enhance eating, feeding, and skills will be provided to families. Evidence-based strategies are provided by an experienced occupational therapist or speech therapist.

• Children who have difficulty eating, chewing, biting, or swallowing foods
• Children who have ongoing gagging, choking, or coughing during meals
• Children with strong negative reactions to non-preferred foods (tantrums, screams)
• Children who are having difficulty transitioning to baby food purees by 10 months
• Children who are not eating foods by 12 months of age
• Children who are still eating baby food at 16 months of age
• Children who do not eat foods orally (e.g. have feeding tube), but are safe to do so
• Children with 20 or less foods in their diet (e.g. dropping foods from their diet)
• Children who avoid food groups (e.g. proteins, fruits, vegetables)
• Families who are experiencing a high level of anger/frustration during mealtimes