Your Visit to the Feeding and Swallowing Program

If your child is currently being seen by a speech-language pathologist for feeding difficulties, ask for a short description of your child's current feeding or swallowing difficulties, reason for referral, and primary concerns prior to the evaluation. Please complete the forms provided here and bring them with you to your appointment.

The diagnostic clinician will discuss with you any concerns you may have for your child, pertinent medical history, and the reason why your child was referred for this evaluation. The format of the evaluation depends greatly on your child's age and specific needs. Generally, your child will be observed while feeding or eating a meal. The clinician will assess current feeding skill level and address any areas of difficulty.

We will provide you with recommendations to implement at home to improve any feeding difficulties noted during the evaluation. Depending on the nature of your child's difficulty, the clinician may also recommend that your child receive Oral-Motor Feeding Therapy and/or other services to facilitate progress.

If feeding therapy is recommended, we can also provide this service at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center. The program currently offers individual and group therapy sessions. Individual therapy sessions may occur on a consultative or weekly basis.