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Feeding Therapy Dubai – an innovative treatment for eating problems in toddlers

Many young children are diagnosed with feeding and swallowing disorders, which is also termed as Dysphagia. With such disorders, the children may face difficulty at any step of the feeding process. If your child is a picky or fussy eater or shows developmentally atypical eating and drinking behaviour, then you should consider consulting a Speech and Language therapist. Children with feeding and eating disorders show various symptoms like not accepting age-appropriate food or liquids. They may have difficulties in using age-appropriate feeding devices or utensils, as well as not being able to self-feed.

Feeding Therapy is an appropriate treatment for children, who are having difficulties in feeding and swallowing food and drinks. Most of the time they take only a limited variety or a very small quantity of food and drink or show specific mealtime behaviour – all of which are not age appropriate.

At Hope-AMC, which is a centre for paediatric feeding disorders therapy in Dubai, we aim at improving the following habits and attributes in children:

  • Making the muscles of the mouth stronger,
  • Strong muscles help in chewing and swallowing food particles properly. So, Paediatric Feeding Therapy in Dubai focuses on making the mouth’s muscles stronger.
  • Increasing tongue movement,
  • Improving chewing,
  • Increasing acceptance of different foods and liquids.
  • Improving sucking and or drinking ability.
  • Coordinating the suck-swallow-breath pattern (for infants);
  • Altering food textures and liquid thickness to ensure safe swallowing.

At Hope, we offer pediatric feeding therapy. We have a specialized team of Paediatric Speech and Language therapists who will help your child to overcome his or her weaknesses or difficulties in feeding and or swallowing and make sure that everything is done in a safe way to enable your child to get the maximum benefit from the pediatric feeding therapy. After assessing the condition of the child and other factors like age, cognitive and physical abilities and specific issues, an appropriate Feeding Therapy plan is suggested by the therapists. Supporting hydration and nutrition, reducing the risk of pulmonary problems to a minimum, facilitating oral or pharyngeal or respiratory coordination, modifying the behavioural and sensory issues etc. are our areas of focus depending on the results from examining the condition of the individual child.

 

FAQs

1What is feeding therapy and who needs it?

Feeding therapy helps children who struggle with eating or swallowing, often due to disorders like dysphagia. If a child has difficulty using age-appropriate feeding tools, refuses food, or eats only limited textures, they may benefit from therapy. It’s ideal for toddlers who are picky eaters or show unusual mealtime behaviors that affect nutrition, growth, or overall development.

2How can I tell if my child might benefit from feeding therapy?

If your child refuses age-appropriate foods or liquids, has trouble chewing, swallowing, or drinking, or shows signs of picky or fussy eating beyond what’s typical for their age, feeding therapy might help. Also, watch for difficulties in using feeding tools or self-feeding. A speech and language therapist can assess if therapy is needed and tailor a plan based on your child’s needs.

3What happens during a feeding therapy session in Dubai?

At Hope AMC in Dubai, feeding therapy sessions are guided by expert speech and language therapists. After an assessment, a personalized plan is created to strengthen oral muscles, improve chewing and tongue movement, and help your child safely swallow different food textures and liquids. Sessions are supportive, safe, and designed to build confidence and skills needed for healthy, independent eating.

4How does feeding therapy help picky eaters?

Feeding therapy helps picky eaters by gradually introducing a wider range of food textures and tastes in a structured, low-pressure way. Our therapists work on building oral muscle strength and improving chewing skills while addressing mealtime behaviors. This encourages children to accept more food types and reduces anxiety around eating, making mealtimes more enjoyable and balanced for both child and parent.

5Can feeding therapy address medical or sensory issues?

Yes, feeding therapy can address both medical and sensory-related feeding difficulties. At Hope AMC, we consider each child’s age, cognitive ability, and sensory processing when designing a plan. Whether your child has coordination issues, swallowing problems, or behavioral aversions to textures, therapy focuses on safe techniques to improve hydration, nutrition, and overall feeding skills while minimizing risks like aspiration or pulmonary problems.

6What techniques or tools are used during feeding therapy at Hope AMC?

Hope AMC uses a variety of tools and approaches tailored to each child’s condition. These include exercises to strengthen oral muscles, improve tongue movement, and coordinate the suck-swallow-breathe pattern. Our feeding therapy specialists may alter food textures or liquid thickness and address sensory sensitivities. All techniques are personalized to help your child eat safely, improve nutritional intake, and overcome feeding-related challenges effectively.

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