Eating is not a simple process, it requires that food be ingested, swallowed, and finally digested. Disruption of any of these processes may lead to malnutrition, poor growth, delayed development, and loss of general health and well being. High Hopes, Inc. offers oral-motor, sensory and behavioral based evaluations and therapy for children whose congenital/acquired medial issues, or behaviorally based impairments affect feeding.

Possible issues appropriate for referral include:

• Food refusal
• Food selectivity by type
• Food selectivity by texture
• Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
• Oral motor dysfunction
• Recurrent vomiting
• Failure to thrive
• Mealtime tantrums
• Self-feeding deficits
• Feeding tube dependence

Feeding treatments utilize a variety of techniques to address the problem list identified during the initial evaluation. Treatment options available at High Hopes, Inc. include:

• Development of feeding protocols
• Caregiver education
• Direct feeding therapy
• Provision of resources