The Feeding Clinic
The Journey With Food Starts From Birth and is Lifelong.
The Feeding Clinic is committed to supporting infants, children and adults with dysphagia (swallowing) and mealtime feeding difficulties. Our aim is to support individuals, their carers and families in experiencing positive mealtimes and relationships, all whilst upholding their quality of life and client-centred goals.
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Who Do We See?
At The Feeding Clinic, we assess, treat and manage everyone across the lifespan. We service infants, children and adults with dysphagia (swallowing) and/or feeding difficulties and concerns.
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We have onsite experienced paediatric and adult based Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and a Dietitian! This way we can offer you a tailor-centred and multidisciplinary approach to you or your loved ones mealtimes.
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Get in touch today to see how we can best support you!
Breast Feeding and Bottle Feeding Infants:
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Long excessive feeding
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Poor weight gain and growth
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Crying and unsettled with feeds
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Nasal stuffiness and regurgitation with feeds
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Drooling with feeds
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Laryngomalacia
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Assess restriction of tongue and lip tie
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Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) - including difficulty coordinating breathing, eating and drinking
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Taking a long time with feeds
Children with:
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Difficulty commencing solids
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Difficulty accepting new textures
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"Picky Eating" in school age children
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Sensory food aversion and avoidance in older children
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Concerns with tongue and lip tie
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Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) - including difficulty coordinating breathing, eating and drinking
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Complex feeding difficulties - including tube fed children and those on modified diet and fluids
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Correction of tongue thrust swallow
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Adults with:
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Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) - including chewing, and the act of swallowing
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Secretion management - sialorrhea and xerostomia
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Poor dentition
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Complex feeding difficulties - including tube fed adults and those on modified diet and fluids
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Difficulty managing current diet/fluid recommendations
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Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
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Medication-induced swallowing changes
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Chronic-cough concerns
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Our Services
The Feeding Clinic offers a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to your, or your loved ones swallowing and feeding concerns. We offer services across the lifespan.
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The Feeding Clinic - assessment and treatment for infants and children
The Adult Dysphagia Clinic - assessment and intervention for adults
Infant Feeding
Breast and Bottle Feeding Assessment
The Feeding Clinic is committed to supporting parents and infants in establishing positive early feeding relationships.
We assess babies with feeding difficulties caused a variety of reasons including:
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History of prematurity
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Low birth weight
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Heart conditions
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Genetic conditions
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Restrictive lingual function (tongue tie)
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Respiratory problems (e.g. Laryngomalacia)
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Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. reflux)
Oral Motor and Feeding Assessment
Assessing Oral Structures and Oral Feeding Milestones
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Assessment of lingual restriction (tongue tie) impacting feeding milestones
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Assessment of orofacial musculature. This includes the tongue, jaw, cheeks, lips, oral structures and how their movement may be impacting your child's feeding milestones.
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Observation of how your child breaks down foods with a variety of textures.
Solids/Texture Progression and Picky Eating
Positive Mealtime Experiences
There are so many approaches to introducing solids. There is no "one size fits all" approach and The Feeding Clinic Speech Pathologists adopt an individual response to feeding.
We see children from six months onwards who show difficulty starting solids and progressing to harder textures (e.g. gagging, coughing or choking).
We also see children who may seem "picky" with their choices of foods as they grow.
Here at The Feeding Clinic, we understand that this can create stress and anxiety for all family members.
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Our service includes:
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Understanding your child's abilities (from thorough assessment), ensuring we select a safe texture for your child where swallowing difficulties may be an underlying cause of food refusal.
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Teaching you to read and respond to your child's feeding communication cues.
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Creating positive experiences and supporting you to encourage your child to be a happy food explorer.
The Adult Dysphagia Clinic
The Adult Dysphagia Clinic is a specialty hub within The Feeding Clinic.
Speech Pathologists in this clinic assess adults who have difficulty managing food, drink and medications caused by a variety of reasons (but not limited to):
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Neurological causes (e.g. stroke or traumatic brain injury)
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Neurodegenerative causes (e.g. Parkinson's Disease)
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Age-related changes (e.g. dementia)
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Surgery to the head and neck
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Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
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Recurrent chest infections
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Medication side effects
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Poor secretion management (e.g. xerostomia and sialorrhea)
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Poor dentition
We also offer a specialised service by managing adults who have chronic cough, caused by a variety of reasons (but not limited to):
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Allergies
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COVID-19
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Asthma
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Post-nasal drip
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Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
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Respiratory conditions (e.g. bronchitis)
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Voice concerns
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Dysphagia (swallowing) concerns
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Poor vocal hygiene
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Globus sensation (sensation of something feeling 'stuck' in your throat)
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