A feeding assessment looks at how a child eats and drinks, and at what makes mealtimes hard. Depending on the concern, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or both may be involved. The visit describes skills and mealtime patterns. It does not diagnose a medical condition or replace your paediatrician.
Ongoing therapy, if it is recommended, is described on feeding therapy. Parent concerns about restricted eating and mealtime stress are outlined on feeding difficulties in children. This page is only the assessment visit.
Updated 29 September 2026. Educational information from The Speech Clinic Dubai. It describes common concerns and what an assessment may involve. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an individual assessment.
Pain, vomiting, allergy, or poor weight gain need medical care first or at the same time. A therapy assessment does not rule out reflux, allergy, or other medical causes.
The clinician asks about development, medical history you already have, who feeds the child, and what a typical meal looks like. If it is safe and appropriate, they watch the child eat or drink a familiar food you bring, or food available at the clinic.
They look at oral skills, seating and posture, sensory responses to texture or smell, and how communication and behaviour show up at the table. Not every child will eat in a new room. Parent description still matters.
You should leave with a plain explanation of what seemed to be getting in the way — skill, sensory response, seating, experience, or a mix — and whether therapy, home changes, medical follow-up, or review is the next step.
Approaches the clinic already uses in feeding therapy, such as the SOS Approach to Feeding or TalkTools feeding therapy, are chosen after this kind of assessment. They are not assigned from a form.
No. Many children are selective for a time. Assessment is useful when eating is stressful, the range is shrinking, skills such as chewing are not developing, or a doctor has raised growth or safety concerns.
Not necessarily. The clinician may watch a familiar food or rely on your description if eating in clinic would be too distressing. The aim of the first visit is to understand the problem, not to force a new food.
A caregiver who knows daily meals should attend. Bring any medical notes you already have, a list of accepted and refused foods, and, if asked, a usual snack.
No. Therapy assessment looks at skills and mealtime participation. Medical causes of pain, vomiting, allergy, or poor growth need a physician.
If mealtimes are worrying you, an assessment can sort skill, sensory response, and mealtime pattern before any therapy is recommended.
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