Feeding Therapy
Our feeding therapy services utilize the SOS® (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding, an evidence-based, transdisciplinary program designed to assess and treat children with feeding difficulties and/ or weight/ growth concerns. SOS feeding therapy adopts a holistic approach integrating sensory processing, oral-motor skills, behavioral learning, nutrition, and environmental support to address the whole child. The SOS approach is designed to meet a child at their current level and build upon their current strengths to make gains.
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Therapy follows the SOS Steps to Eating hierarchy involving use of systematic desensitization to increase their tolerance for foods by progressing through interacting with food (visual tolerance, smell, touch, taste) before expecting them to eat. Sessions are play-based and child-directed with emphasis on postural stability, oral-motor skill development, sensory modulation, and graded exposure to a variety of food textures and types.
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Mealtimes shouldn’t feel stressful—for kids or caregivers. Using the SOS Approach to Feeding, our feeding therapists help children feel safe, confident, and calm around food. This play-based, child-led method supports kids who are picky eaters, have sensory sensitivities, oral-motor challenges, or difficulty progressing to new textures and foods.
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Rather than focusing on “taking bites,” SOS feeding therapy builds the skills that come before eating such as tolerating, interacting with, smelling, touching, and eventually tasting foods. Our goal is to help your child expand their diet, develop healthy feeding skills, and enjoy mealtimes again.
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They eat a very limited variety of foods (i.e. only a few preferred brands, textures, or colors)
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They refuse entire food groups (such as fruits, vegetables, or proteins)
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They gag, choke, or vomit when trying new or texture foods
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They are sensitive to smells, textures, temperature, or appearances of food
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They avoid touching, smelling, or playing with food
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They take an unusually long time to finish meals (over 30 minutes regularly)
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They become upset, anxious, or emotional at mealtimes
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They struggle with chewing, biting, or moving food in their mouth
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They show poor weight gain, slow growth, or nutritional concerns
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They eat the same foods repeatedly and resist change
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They rely on distractions (screens, toys) to eat
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Mealtimes feel stressful for your family