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SUPPORTING INFANTS AND KIDS WHO ARE PICKY EATERS, PROBLEM FEEDERS, OR WHO HAVE MEDICALLY-BASED FEEDING CHALLENGES
Westside utilizes a multi-disciplinary program for assessing and treating children with feeding difficulties. Our treatment interventions integrate posture, sensory, motor, behavioral/learning, oral motor, medical and nutritional factors to evaluate and manage children with feeding/growth concerns. Parent education and participation is an integral part of our therapy.
We never forget that a kid is a kid by ensuring feeding therapy is fun, safe, and inviting. Our expectation: life-changing results.
Feeding Therapy begins with an evaluation from a clinician. This evaluation informs you on the recommended frequency of appointments and the areas of concern therapy will address.
Feeding Therapy sessions are 1-on-1 and take place in our clinics. Our clinics are designed to be kid-friendly, and our feeding rooms are designed to replicate common eating spaces that the child would encounter across all feeding environments. It is a refreshing change from a boring medical office.
Our therapists are overseen by Directors who are highly respected, veteran therapists. Their job is to mentor therapists and ensure every child is achieving life-changing results.
We offer 3 types of feeding therapy – (1) Picky Eating, (2) Medically-Based, (3) Pre and Post Frenectomy Care.
The first type of feeding therapy is for picky eaters. This therapy is conducted by specially trained Speech or Occupational therapists in diverse philosophies of feeding therapy. The goal of this therapy is to reduce mealtime aversions and increase overall food repertoire for proper nutritional intake.
The second type of feeding therapy is for children with medically-based feeding conditions. Feeding therapy for this area focuses on increasing safe oral intake, reducing aspiration risk, increasing weight gain and food tolerance, increasing motor skills, and aiding in acquiring age appropriate feeding milestones in infancy through 18 years of age.
The third type is a specifically designed program that encompasses pre and post care and exercises for tethered oral tissue releases or revisions. This program includes evaluation, pre and post operative care/training for releases or revisions of tongue ties, lip ties, and any other tethered oral tissues.
“Picky eaters” need feeding therapy when they are eating less than 30 different foods, are having extreme difficulties when new or non preferred foods are presented, or when feeding your kiddo has become an extreme stressor for your family.
We work with a wide variety of insurance companies and HMO networks. We are always expanding our network – click here to view the list of our currently accepted insurances.
While cost varies by insurance plan, number of therapy hours, and other factors, we still inform you on what you’ll expect to pay after your child’s evaluation.
There are many reasons from low staff turnover to having over 1,000+ pediatricians referring to us for services. Above all is our parents’ feedback.
Every parent is sent a survey at the beginning, middle, and end of their therapy services. It asks: “On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to refer Westside to your friends and family.”
Here is what parents say:
This is exactly why Westside is deemed the best.
Graduating kids from therapy is our goal. It means that we did our job and that the child’s concerns have been addressed. We do everything we can to achieve progress as quick as possible. There is ongoing communication between the family and the therapist on the child’s progress. When it is agreed that the concerns have been fully addressed, it is time to graduate AND celebrate!
Our snack fee is a way for us to purchase, prepare, and provide all the foods needed for our picky eaters during feeding therapy sessions.
The cost is $150.00 every 12 weeks and is an alternative to bringing in your own foods for therapy.
At Westside, we generally treat children birth-18 years old. Our therapists are trained to work to work with infants, kids, and teens.
We offer in-clinic therapy not only because the research indicates strong clinical results but also because it fosters a community of support for our families.
We locate our Feeding Therapy centers near you! We have over 25 locations in the Chicagoland area, including clinics in Rockford and DeKalb.
If you take a look at our Feeding Therapy centers, you will see why kids are so excited to run through our doors when they arrive for therapy.
If you are interested, submit an inquiry below. Our Intake Team will call to help you determine a plan forward. If you are still unsure, you can call us anytime at (815) 469-1500 for more information.