Feeding is a process that begins with the oral phase. This means bringing food to the mouth, chewing it, and moving it to the back of the throat. Next comes the pharyngeal phase. This involves closing off the airway and swallowing the food. Finally, the esophageal phase is where the food moves from the esophagus to the stomach. Children may experience difficulty during any of these stages due to disorders with the nervous system, reflux, muscle weakness, sensory issues, or other problems. Some signs that a child may have a feeding disorder include difficulty with breastfeeding, coughing or gagging during meals, spitting up and throwing up excessively, and poor weight gain. Some children are picky eaters and cannot tolerate specific textures or tastes. Our therapists are trained to assess and treat these children.