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Feeding Difficulties Center

Experiencing feeding challenges with your child? First things first: You’re not alone. In fact, feeding disorders in children are common and can be the result of medical, behavioral as well as potential oral motor issues. Whether your child is developing typically or is developmentally disabled, the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Feeding Difficulties Center can support you through challenges such as food allergies, chewing or swallowing problems, digestion issues or picky eaters.

Comprehensive Care For Your Child and Family

The Feeding Difficulties Center team is made up of a highly specialized, multidisciplinary group comprised of:

These specialists work together to treat every aspect of your child’s condition and provide comprehensive, personalized care.

Equipping Families With the Tools for Success

Our patient-first philosophy ensures we consider every part of your child’s sensory, behavioral, oral motor or feeding disorder. We then provide family education and help find solutions to everyday eating obstacles. Here are some ways that we involve families and caregivers in our feeding care:

  • Family-centered goals. We work closely with you and your child to develop skills and work towards appropriate, meaningful goals related to eating. We encourage all members of your child’s care team – including parents, older siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and nannies – to participate, learn and practice the strategies of our feeding program.
  • Active involvement of families. In some pediatric therapy programs, parents remain in the waiting room while the therapist treats the child behind closed doors. Our team encourages parents to attend and participate in therapy sessions so they can learn and practice feeding strategies.
  • Videotaping sessions for real-time feedback. As part of our commitment to positive family involvement, we can videotape therapy sessions as needed. We use these recordings to provide real-time feedback to parents and caregivers on how they are using strategies effectively, and what areas could use improvement. Additionally, when they aren’t needed in the therapy session, parents or other caregivers can observe from our observation room.

What to Expect at the Feeding Difficulties Center

Contact Us

For general information and questions about our program, please call (321) 841-7116, or email us at [email protected].