Difficulty chewing food, pocketing food during meals, trouble drinking from cup, straw or bottle.
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Tube dependence for nutrition, aspiration on liquids requiring thickening, NPO status.
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Difficulty transitioning to solid foods, having a limited diet or limited variety of textures, gagging on new or non-preferred foods.
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Difficulty with latching on, coordinating suckle/swallow, breath, choking often during feeds.
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At Carolina Speech & Feeding Center we draw upon a number of specialized methods and techniques to develop a treatment program that is carefully tailored to the child's current abilities and treatment goals.
We have the skills, training, and experience to deal specifically and exclusively with feeding and swallowing disorders at our center.
They make Ava feel comfortable and she loves going! I'm so glad I followed my gut and found a true organization that cares about my child and encourages progress weekly! Thanks to Miss Meg and all the great staff!
Signed, A Happy Mommy!
I thought our previous therapist was good at treating feeding issues but, since seeking therapy at the feeding center, I can't believe the improvement and specialized care we now receive!
A Thankful Parent
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Is feeding time not an enjoyable experience with your child? Does it cause stress and anxiety? Do you devote a large amount of time or energy just to feeding?
We can help. Our skilled and specialized pediatric therapists treat these situations daily.
We treat a wide range of conditions while specializing in feeding aversions and swallowing disorders with children from birth to adolescents .
We are experienced in NICU feeding difficulties,feeding aversions, children with feeding tube dependence, trouble transitioning to textures in babies and toddlers, difficulty in breastfeeding or poor latch and more.
TalkTools Oral Placement therapy (OPT).
Use of hierarchies to train muscle movements improve
phonation, resonation, feeding and speech clarity. The
hierarchies are designed to use motivating activities
(bubbles, horns, straws) to improve
muscle movements
in small, sequential steps to allow the client to work
at levels that he/she is successful at while improving
strength and coordination as they advance up the
hierarchy. Use of these activities provides added
tactile information, allowing clients to feel the
accurate placement for
skills as well as seeing and
hearing a speech/feeding model.
SOS (systematic-oral-sensory) Approach to feeding therapy.
A systematic desensitization using a hierarchy of interactions with foods to increase acceptance of different textures. The SOS approach is centered around using play to teach children to interact with foods in a positive way, slowly exploring new foods and tolerating the sight, smell, touch and taste foods. Therapists model interactions with food as the child imitates through play.
Who Should Be Referred?
We accept direct patient referrals and referrals from your pediatrician or specialist. We are currently In-Network with Cigna, UnitedHealth, Medicaid and HealthChoice.
Give us a call to discuss your situation. After speaking directly to one of our therapists, we will determine if you particular situation merits a visit to our office for a formal evaluation. We will get you scheduled, check your insurance benefits and eligibility and walk you through the process. We handle everything. After your evaluation, a formal report will be written with specific recommendations. You and your feeding specialist will discuss the findings and come up with a custom treatment plan to fit your diagnosis, availability and budget. Once everyone is comfortable moving forward your regular treatment sessions will begin within a week, subject to availability. If applicable, we will obtain authorization and file ongoing claims to your insurance. You will personally work with your feeding specialist to continually improve and adjust the treatment plan to everyone's satisfaction to achieve the desired goals. We strive to get the maximum results in the most efficient way possible and in a manner that is best for the patient and the family.
