When to Refer
Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
- Limited food repertoire
- Difficulties transitioning to age appropriate cup
- Gags while eating
- Difficulties gaining or maintaining weight
- Mealtime problems
- Difficulties transitioning to age appropriate food
When to Refer
Oral Motor Disorders
- Troubles controlling lips, tongue, jaw muscles, resulting is speech or eating difficulties.
- Lisp
- Tongue thrust
- Troubles sticking out tongue or moving side to side
- Excessive drooling past 18 months
- Refuses to eat food that needs to be chewed
- Food falling from mouth
- Food left in mouth
- Slow and inefficient chewing
- Grinding or clenching of teeth
- Open mouth posture
- Swallows without chewing
When to Refer
Neonatal and Infant Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
- Difficulties to latch
- If there is ongoing difficulty with Suck-Swallow Breath Synchrony
- Loss of coordination during a feed
- If baby persistently exhibits stress signs during feeding (hiccups, yawning, quickly falling asleep, increase in breathing, turning head away from bottle/breast)
- Noisy, “wet” breathing during or after feeding
- Multiple swallows
- Coughing or choking during swallowing
