Feeding Therapy
Feeding Therapy
At our The Speech Clinic, in Dubai, we understand that feeding difficulties can affect both the physical and emotional well-being of individuals. Our Feeding Therapy services are designed to help children and adults overcome challenges such as picky eating, swallowing issues, and sensory sensitivities to food.
At The We use a combination of evidence-based approaches to address these difficulties and create a Our Approach: Playful, Fun, and Effective!
We use a combination of proven, playful methods to help individuals overcome feeding challenges. Each approach is tailored to meet your specific needs, ensuring progress at your own pace.
1.SOS Approach to Feeding:
The Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach is all about making food less intimidating. It starts with play and exploration – no pressure, just fun! By gradually introducing new textures, tastes, and even colors of food, we help children feel more comfortable and confident around meals. The goal is to go from simple exploration to actually eating and enjoying a variety of foods.
What’s Included?
- Exploring foods without the pressure to eat them
- Creating positive associations with different textures and tastes
- Moving at your pace – no rush, just steady progress
2.TalkTools Feeding Therapy:
TalkTools is a unique, hands-on therapy that uses specific tools and exercises to strengthen and coordinate the muscles needed for chewing and swallowing. Whether your child struggles with oral-motor skills or sensory sensitivities, TalkTools focuses on improving mouth strength and coordination so that eating becomes easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
What’s Included?
- Fun oral-motor exercises to strengthen mouth muscles
- Tools that make chewing and swallowing easier and more comfortable
- Personalized therapy plans that evolve as you progress
Common Feeding Challenges We Address:
Picky Eating:
Does your child turn their nose up at most foods? Let's explore the world of flavors together!
Swallowing Issues:
Struggling with swallowing can be stressful. We'll work on building confidence and safety around eating.
Sensory Sensitivities:
If certain textures or smells turn you off from food, we'll help you feel comfortable with more variety.
Oral Motor Difficulties:
If chewing and swallowing are a challenge, we use hands-on techniques to build strength and coordination.
Transitioning from Liquids to Solids:
Moving from bottle-feeding to solid foods doesn't have to be overwhelming we'll make it smooth!
What to Expect in Feeding Therapy:
Every session is designed to be interactive, engaging, and full of fun activities! We know that feeding therapy doesn't have to be a chore, and we make sure every step is a positive experience.
Interactive Play:
From sensory food exploration to hands-on oral-motor exercises, every session is full of exciting, child-friendly activities.
Gradual Progress:
We break things down into small, manageable steps so that every milestone feels like a win.
Sensory Sensitivities:
Parents and caregivers are a big part of the process! We'll guide you with practical tips and strategies to support progress at home.
Ready to Get Started?
Feeding therapy at our clinic is all about taking one step at a time no pressure, just progress. We're here to make mealtimes enjoyable again, so that both you and your child feel confident around food. If you're ready to make mealtime fun again, let's talk! Contact us today to schedule a consultation, and take the first step toward building a positive, stress-free relationship with food.
Frequently Asked Questions
?What is feeding therapy and who needs it?
Feeding therapy helps children who have difficulties with eating, drinking, or swallowing. At The Speech Clinic Dubai, we help children with:
- • Picky eating and food aversions
- • Sensory sensitivities to food textures, smells, or temperatures
- • Oral-motor difficulties affecting chewing and swallowing
- • Medical conditions that affect feeding
- • Developmental delays impacting feeding skills
We use evidence-based approaches including SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach and TalkTools to make feeding fun and successful.
?Which age groups do you work with for feeding therapy?
We provide feeding therapy services for children up to 16 years old. Our paediatric programme is designed to meet the unique needs of younger children as they grow, explore, and develop their eating skills.
?What happens at my child's first feeding therapy session?
During the first appointment our feeding specialist will:
- • Review your child's feeding, medical, developmental and sensory history
- • Observe how your child interacts with food (textures, tastes, smells, chewing/swallowing)
- • Assess oral-motor skills (chewing, tongue/lip movement, swallowing) and sensory responses around food
- • Together with you set clear, measurable goals
- • Design a personalised feeding plan, incorporating play-based exploration in a safe, supportive environment
?Will the feeding therapy be fun and child-friendly?
Yes! We believe feeding therapy should be positive and engaging, not stressful. Our approach uses play-based exploration of food (textures, tastes, smells), safe but fun oral-motor exercises, and gradual exposure so your child can feel comfortable and confident.
?Are parents and teachers involved in the feeding therapy process?
Absolutely. We believe that involving parents, caregivers and (when relevant) school staff leads to the best outcomes. You'll receive guidance, strategies and home carry-over tasks so the skills your child works on in therapy translate into everyday mealtimes.
?What approaches do you use in feeding therapy?
Our feeding therapy uses multiple evidence-based approaches:
- • SOS Approach: Makes food less intimidating through play and gradual exposure
- • TalkTools: Strengthens oral-motor skills for better chewing and swallowing
- • Sensory Integration: Addresses sensory sensitivities to food
- • Family-Centered: Involves parents in the therapy process
- • Play-Based: Makes therapy fun and engaging for children
Each child receives a personalized plan based on their specific needs and challenges.
?What kinds of feeding challenges can you help with?
We help children who:
- • Strongly dislike many foods, or avoid foods by colour, smell, texture (picky eating)
- • Have difficulty chewing, swallowing, or managing different textures (oral-motor issues)
- • Exhibit sensory sensitivities (e.g., certain textures/smells make eating difficult)
- • Struggle transitioning from bottle or purees to solids or from liquids to more solid textures
- • Have complex medical or developmental conditions that impact feeding skills
?How often should feeding therapy occur and how soon will we notice improvements?
The frequency of sessions depends on your child's needs, goals, and current feeding skills. Many children attend weekly or bi-weekly; some may require more frequent support initially.
You may begin to notice improvements (such as less food avoidance, new textures tolerated, better chewing) within a few weeks, but more complex feeding patterns may take longer — monthly reviews will monitor progress.
?How do you tailor feeding therapy to the Dubai & UAE context?
Based in Dubai Healthcare City, we understand the local culture, food habits, family routines and school settings in the UAE. Our feeding plans consider your everyday environment — home meals, school snacks, local food options — so progress is relevant and sustainable.
?How do I know if my child may need feeding therapy? What signs should I look for?
Consider feeding therapy if your child:
- • Refuses most foods and eats a very limited variety for their age
- • Avoids entire food groups, colours or textures (e.g., only eats white foods, or avoids crunchy foods)
- • Has difficulty chewing or swallowing, often coughs or gags at mealtime
- • Takes a very long time to eat compared to peers or appears fatigued during meals
- • Shows strong negative reactions (crying, turning away) to food textures/smells
If you observe these signs, a feeding assessment can help clarify if intervention is needed.