Areas We Support

Chewing & Swallowing Difficulties

Speech pathologists are the health professionals who assess and treat feeding and swallowing difficulties in children, and this is a core part of what we do at First Bites.

Signs your child may need support

A feeding assessment may be recommended if your child:

Coughs, chokes or gags frequently when eating or drinking
Often holds food in their mouth for a long time or spits food out partially chewed
Swallows food whole, or avoids foods that need chewing (like meat or raw vegetables)
Takes a very long time to finish meals
Has a wet or gurgly sounding voice after eating or drinking
Has recurrent chest infections with no clear cause
Tires quickly during meals, or seems to work very hard to eat

Some of these signs may indicate a swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) and should be assessed promptly. If you have concerns about your child’s swallowing, we recommend speaking with your GP. At First Bites, we also work closely with GPs and paediatricians when dysphagia is suspected, ensuring your child receives appropriate and coordinated care.

What an assessment involves

A feeding assessment is guided by your child’s needs. We take a thorough case history, observe your child eating and drinking foods they are comfortable with and will also look at your child’s mouth and oral movements. There is no pressure to eat foods they are not ready for – we work at a pace that feels manageable for your child.

We look at how your child bites, chews, moves food around their mouth and swallows, as well as how different foods and textures affect these skills.

From there, we provide a clear picture of what is happening and a practical plan for moving forward. This may include therapy to build chewing skills, guidance around food textures that are currently safe and achievable and steps for progressing these skills over time. Where required, we also liaise with your child's broader care team to share our findings and recommendations.

What therapy looks like

Therapy is individualised, but may include:

Developing oral motor skills through eating and drinking, using food to practise biting, chewing, moving food around the mouth and swallowing in a functional, meaningful way.
Grading food textures and consistencies so your child can practise their skills at the right level of challenge and gradually build their confidence.
Strategies for pacing, positioning and mealtime setup to support safe, efficient and comfortable eating.
Supporting parents to confidently continue practice at home, with practical strategies that fit into everyday meals and snacks.

Children who have found eating difficult often have a narrow range of foods they feel comfortable eating. For this reason, we frequently combine oral motor skill development with support for expanding food range and building confidence around mealtimes.

Concerned about chewing or swallowing?

An assessment gives you clarity and a plan. Book online or call to discuss your child's needs.