Feeding & Swallowing Therapy
Helping kids come to the table
Mealtimes are meant for making memories, not meltdowns. Our team supports safe swallowing, oral-motor skills, and making positive mealtime habits so your child can have a confident start at the table.
What is feeding and swallowing therapy?
More than just eating
Feeding therapy is a multifaceted intervention designed to address the complex biological and behavioral processes of eating. While often associated with the act of swallowing, it includes everything from the moment food is seen to safely landing in the stomach.
Connecting the body and the brain
Feeding therapy is most effective when it addresses both the "hardware" (muscles) and the "software" (neurological processing). At Oaklin Lane, our feeding therapists (Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists) bridge the gap between mechanical function and sensory integration.
Common conditions or challenges we support:
Dysphagia
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Chronic Pulmonary Aspiration
Cleft Lip / Palate
Tongue Thrust
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Excessive Drooling
Failure to Thrive /
Low Weight Gain
Picky Eating
Tongue / Lip Tie
Respiratory Problems
Difficulty Latching
FAQs
When seeking the right help to meet your child’s needs, there are two important factors to consider: staff and facility. Our staff is dedicated to providing the most current and intensive treatment available.
Therapists at Oaklin Lane receive the latest information and attend the most comprehensive continuing education available. Our therapists have certifications in a variety of areas, including Integrative and Therapeutic Listening, Interactive Metronome, and Primitive Reflex Integration.
Providing the full spectrum of comprehensive sensorimotor treatment techniques requires a well-equipped gym. Oaklin Lane clinics provide state-of-the-art facilities with the best, most intentional equipment for improving nervous system function. Without the proper equipment, the needed intensity to truly bring about changes in the nervous system can’t be achieved. Before you spend time in a facility that may not be equipped to meet your child’s needs, visit Oaklin Lane and take a look at what we have to offer.
An initial evaluation usually takes about an hour. The evaluation includes one-on-one assessment by a licensed therapist and includes standardized testing as well as clinical observations. Your child’s skills, processing, and integration of different functions will be evaluated and scored according to standard norms.
This information is then used to interpret your child’s level of function. The therapist will compile a comprehensive report detailing the findings. They will develop a plan of care with long-term and short-term goals to address your child’s individual needs. Finally, the therapist will present all of this information to you during a caregiver conference.
At the conference, guardians will watch an educational video that provides crucial background information about how the nervous system develops and functions so that they may better understand the test results presented. Then, the therapist sits down with the guardians to explain the test results and recommendations. This is most people’s favorite part because they really feel like they have a better understanding of their child’s issues and the path toward resolution.
Most treatments are done twice a week to get the best results. Speech therapy is most often delivered in 30-minute sessions, and OT/PT is most often delivered in 45-minute sessions. However, every child has individualized needs, and we build plans specifically around them. Pricing will depend on the individual plan, insurance carrier, and/or applicable discounts.
We are currently in-network providers for most major commercial and Medicaid plans. Some insurance companies cover our services at an out-of-network rate. In those cases, gap coverage can usually be obtained to get the in-network benefit. We also have discounts available for our non-insured and under-insured patients. Regardless of insurance company, our office staff will check insurance benefits before treatment and will file with all insurance companies for services rendered.
