Eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties
Referrals for eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties will only be accepted from a health professional, for example, a GP, health visitor, paediatrician, dietician.
If you are worried about your child’s eating and drinking skills, please speak to your health visitor in the first instance.
Refer if:
- concerns regarding safety of swallow and/or risk of aspiration, a history of repeated unexplained chest infections, bronchiolitis, wheeze, prolonged wet cough
- persistent ongoing oral-motor difficulties, for example sucking (from a bottle), biting, chewing, poor tongue control, unable to transfer food/liquid from the front to the back of the mouth, that impact their ability to eat and drink safely
- a sudden change or deterioration in eating and drinking skills with associated concerns regarding swallow safety or have a high risk of aspiration and texture/consistency modification plan requires review.
Exclusion criteria (we do not accept referrals for):
- behavioural and/or sensory/aversive feeding difficulties for example food refusal/fussy eaters/restricted diet – need to be directed to GP who can direct you to the most appropriate service required
- difficulties associated with weaning for example progression with textures, refusing solids, spitting out/refusing lumps, where there is no associated medical or neurological condition - need to be directed to health visitors
- poor appetite, in isolation of any other difficulties, reduced level of alertness and/or are medically unstable, known to aspirate on oral secretions (saliva) therefore unsafe for any oral intake, have (primary) unmanaged gastroesophageal reflux, are less than 34 weeks gestation at point of referral, as not appropriate to commence oral feeding - need to be directed to GP/paediatrician.
