Feeding Difficulties
Treatment in Lucknow

Extremely limited food repertoire

Accepting fewer than 20 foods, refusing entire food groups or textures, or showing distress when preferred foods change in appearance.

Food aversions by texture, colour, or smell

Strong, consistent rejection of foods based on sensory properties rather than taste, making balanced nutrition very difficult.

Gagging or vomiting at mealtimes

Frequent or distressing gagging, retching, or vomiting in response to food textures, smells, or even the sight of certain foods.

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Pocketing food in the cheeks, excessive drooling, prolonged chewing, or coughing and choking during meals suggesting oral motor weakness or swallowing difficulties.

Mealtimes lasting over 30 minutes

Prolonged meals due to slow eating, distraction, refusal, or the need for significant coaxing — causing stress for both child and family.

Growth or nutrition concerns

Faltering growth, nutritional deficiencies, or excessive reliance on nutritional supplements or formula beyond expected developmental stages.

Sensory Processing Differences

Heightened oral sensory sensitivity to textures, temperatures, flavours, or smells makes a wide range of foods aversive and can lead to significant dietary restriction.

Oral Motor Difficulties

Weakness or incoordination of the lips, tongue, cheeks, or jaw muscles affects the ability to manage different food textures safely and efficiently.

Medical & Structural Causes

Gastro-oesophageal reflux, food allergies, cleft palate, tongue tie, or structural differences in the airway or oesophagus can all contribute to feeding challenges.

Negative Feeding Experiences

Early experiences of pain, discomfort, or frightening events during feeding — such as prolonged tube feeding, choking, or medical procedures — can lead to learned food avoidance and anxiety.

Feeding & Swallowing Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation of oral motor skills, sensory responses to food, swallowing safety, mealtime behaviour, dietary intake, and medical history.

Mealtime Environment & Structure

Establishing calm, predictable mealtime routines and environments that reduce anxiety and create the conditions for food exploration.

Sensory Desensitisation

Gradual, playful exposure to new food properties — beginning outside the mouth and progressing at the child's pace to reduce sensory aversion.

Oral Motor Therapy

Targeted exercises and activities to strengthen and coordinate the oral muscles needed for safe, efficient chewing and swallowing of age-appropriate textures.

Food Chaining & Repertoire Expansion

Systematically introducing new foods by building on accepted foods — step by step in colour, texture, or flavour — to expand dietary variety.

Family Coaching & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Empowering parents with mealtime strategies and working alongside paediatricians, dietitians, and gastroenterologists for a whole-child approach.

What Families See
After Treatment

With consistent therapy and family involvement, children with Feeding Difficulties make meaningful, measurable progress at Growing Stars.

Available at
Both Locations

Related Conditions

These conditions often co-occur or share similar characteristics with Feeding Difficulties.

Recommended Therapies

Our evidence-based services that directly address Feeding Difficulties.