Pediatric Feeding Therapy for Dysphagia
in Bentonville, AR

Does your child struggle with swallowing food or liquids? Do they tend to get anxious at mealtimes because they’re worried about choking? Difficulty swallowing can make mealtimes a daily challenge and can even affect your child’s growth if they can’t get the nutrients their growing body needs. Thankfully, feeding therapy can help your child overcome these challenges.

Our friendly feeding therapists at No Limits Pediatric Therapies can empower your child through proven techniques and play-based therapy sessions. We’ll help your child build the skills to safely and confidently eat, drink, and enjoy mealtimes with family.

What Is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is a medical term that means “difficulty swallowing.” There are three different steps of swallowing. If your child struggles with any one of these steps, then they can end up coughing or choking on their food and drinks:

Chewing food into smaller pieces that are easy to swallow
Moving the food to the back of the throat with the tongue to start swallowing
Swallowing the food down the esophagus into the stomach

Some children may have mild swallowing challenges, while others may experience more severe symptoms. Either way, feeding therapy can help children master the oral motor skills they need for effective chewing and swallowing so they can eat and drink confidently.

Common Signs of Dysphagia in Children

Some of the most common signs of dysphagia include:

Coughing, choking, or gagging during or after meals
Frequent drooling or difficulty managing saliva
Refusing certain foods
Taking a long time to finish meals
Gaining weight too slowly or losing weight
Getting frequent respiratory infections or pneumonia
Difficulty sucking or latching for infants

What Causes Dysphagia?

Dysphagia in children can have a variety of causes, including but not limited to:

Premature birth or low birth weight
Neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Structural issues, such as cleft palate or tongue-tie
Genetic conditions, such as muscular dystrophy

How Feeding Therapy Helps Children with Dysphagia

Our feeding therapists at No Limits Pediatric Therapies will work closely with you and your child to address swallowing challenges. After thoroughly assessing your child’s needs, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan to help them build practical chewing and swallowing skills. Our team uses evidence-based techniques, engaging activities, and a play-based approach to make therapy successful and enjoyable.

Your child’s therapy plan may involve building oral-motor strength, practicing safe swallowing techniques, and introducing new food textures gradually to reduce sensory aversions. We also work closely with families to develop mealtime strategies that make eating more manageable at home. With routine therapy, we can help your child learn to eat and drink confidently for a future without limits.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Experts

Does your child struggle with chewing or swallowing? We’re here to help! We offer a free 15-minute consultation to help you decide if feeding therapy is the right choice for your child.