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Common Feeding Disorders in Pediatric Patients
Pediatric patients that present with difficulties eating or feeding may have a diagnosable feeding disorder. Common feeding disorders are complex and may include various factors and criteria, all of which are different from the classic eating disorders that are more well known, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.
Children who struggle with a feeding disorder may vary in age, from infancy through adolescence, and these issues can complicate normal ability to grow and develop.
Understanding Feeding/Swallowing Disorders
Feeding and swallowing disorders may include difficulties with chewing, sucking or swallowing food and/or nourishment that is appropriate for that particular stage of development. While many children often encounter some feeding difficulties as they develop and grow, such as phases of picky eating, feeding disorders on the other hand are much more severe and often compromise a child’s ability to grow and thrive.
Some of the most common symptoms related to feeding disorders in children may include but are not limited to the following:
- Refusing to eat any solids or liquid forms of nourishment
- Choking, vomiting or gagging when eating or attempting to eat
- Sensory or oral motor difficulties
- Refusal of entire food groups, such as meats or vegetables
- Difficulty accepting and/or swallowing various food textures
- Feeding tube dependency, such as a gastrostomy or naso-gastric tube
Many children with feeding disorders may find meal times overwhelming, often throwing tantrums at mealtimes, appearing visibly distraught or anxious during a meal, crying spells, or displaying minimal social interactions.
Factors That May Influence The Development of Feeding Disorders in Children
Feeding disorders may be the result of multiple factors and cannot necessarily be pinpointed to one particular reason. Certain medical conditions, sensory or motor developmental disorders, cognitive and/or structural abnormalities can make it more difficult for a child to eat adequately.
This may include something such as prematurity, gastrointestinal motility disorders, autism, oral motor dysfunction, palate defects, and more. Feeding disorders likely develop from a combination of biological factors, such as genetics and physiological disorders/abnormalities, and environmental triggers.
Seeking Out Professional Help and Care to Diagnose and Treat Feeding Disorders
Because feeding disorders in children are quite complex and often involve a multitude of actors, seeking out professional help and assistance is necessary for diagnosis and treatment. This will often involve the coordinated care of a pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, registered dietitian, and developmental specialist.
Assessing a child’s feeding symptoms and behaviors thoroughly are part of an adequate assessment for feeding disorders and may include the use of diagnostic tests, such as an endoscopic assessment or modified barium-swallow exam.
Based on an assessment and evaluation, a specialized team addressing feeding difficulties in a child can make appropriate recommendations for treatment that can help a child make progress with their eating and feeding behaviors.
Treatments for feeding disorders in pediatric patients often include a combination of medical interventions, direct feeding therapies, behavioral management techniques, nutritional changes, and more. Treatment length and the involvement of the various specialists involved with feeding disorder treatment may vary depending on the severity of the disorder in the child who may be struggling.
If you are concerned that your child may be dealing with a feeding disorder, it is important to seek out a professional and specialized evaluation immediately. A good place to start is with your pediatrician. Be sure to describe the signs and symptoms in detail to your health care provider to help them identify, assess, and treat feeding disorders in your child. With early interventions and specialized care, children with common feeding disorders can have a better prognosis and long-term recovery.
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on March 23, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
