Feeding / Swallowing

Speech Pathologists at Community Therapy Services work with infants and children who have difficulty with feeding and swallowing.

Vital Stim® is one of the treatments that we use for some swallowing
difficulties. Vital Stim is a safe, non-invasive treatment that is backed
by compelling clinical data and approved by the FDA. Vital Stim uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. At the same time, trained speech pathologists help patients “re-educate” their muscles through rehabilitation therapy. Speech pathologists across the country have reported previously unheard of successes, especially among patients for whom all other traditional treatments have failed. After receiving Vital Stim treatment, many adults and children are now eating normally.

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Feeding is a treatment that may be used for children who have feeding difficulties which may or may not be related to the oral motor structure. Feeding problems can be caused by sensory challenges, autism, low muscle tone, gastro-esophageal reflux, difficulty with motor planning, and allergies as well as decreased oral motor ability. A transdisciplinary team evaluates the child to determine the causes and treatments for the feeding difficulties.