Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy
in Manhattan & Westchester County

Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy is a specialized form of therapy aimed at addressing difficulties related to oral motor function and feeding skills. This therapy focuses on improving the strength, coordination, and movement of the muscles involved in chewing, swallowing, and overall oral function. The ultimate goal of Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy is to improve oral motor skills, promote safe and efficient feeding, expand food acceptance and variety, and enhance overall nutritional intake and well-being.

Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy is designed to help individuals, particularly children, who may experience challenges such as:

• Weak oral musculature affecting chewing and swallowing

• Difficulty coordinating oral movements for sucking, chewing and swallowing

• Oral hypersensitivity,  aversions, or sensory related issues to certain food textures or tastes

• Delayed development of feeding skills, such as transitioning to solid foods or using utensils

• Gastrointestinal issues impacting feeding and digestion

• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy typically involves a combination of techniques and activities tailored to the individual's specific needs and goals. These may include oral motor exercises, sensory stimulation activities, texture and taste exposure, positioning techniques, and behavioral strategies to encourage positive feeding experiences.

We are also trained in using (and teaching parents how to use) Talk Tools techniques, ARFID, Mealtime Miseries: Management of complex feeding issues, which are designed to target specific oral motor and feeding difficulties and support the development of improved oral motor skills, behaviors around feeding, and feeding abilities in individuals of all ages.

The timeline for seeing results from Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy can vary widely depending on several factors, including the nature and severity of the feeding difficulties, the underlying causes of the challenges, the individual's response to therapy, and the consistency of therapy attendance. We are trained in other approaches and modalities, as well as refer to other specialists, to get our clients results as quickly as possible.