Feeding and Swallowing Therapy in Fairfield County, CT

Eating and swallowing are supposed to be automatic. When they aren't, for a baby who won't take a bottle, a toddler who gags on textures, or an adult who coughs at every meal, it affects nutrition, health and the whole family's day. Our speech-language pathologists treat feeding and swallowing across the lifespan. Our owner's background includes conducting and interpreting Modified Barium Swallow studies in hospital settings, so we work comfortably alongside physicians. In person in Westport or by telehealth. In-network with Anthem, Cigna and Aetna.

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Who we see for feeding and swallowing

Infants, toddlers and children

Babies with difficulty latching, sucking or coordinating breathing while feeding. Toddlers who are stuck on purees, gag or refuse textures, or eat fewer than a handful of foods. Children with tongue thrust, oral-motor weakness, or feeding issues connected to reflux, prematurity, sensory differences or developmental conditions.

Adults

Coughing or choking with meals, food or pills sticking, a wet or gurgly voice after eating, unexplained weight loss or repeated chest infections. Dysphagia after a stroke or brain injury, with Parkinson's disease or other neurological conditions, or following head and neck cancer treatment.

What we treat

  • Infant feeding difficulties, including bottle and breast feeding coordination

  • Picky and problem eating, texture aversion and limited food repertoires

  • Oral-motor weakness affecting chewing and swallowing

  • Tongue thrust and other orofacial myofunctional patterns

  • Pediatric dysphagia related to medical or developmental conditions

  • Adult dysphagia after stroke, brain injury or neurological disease, and swallowing changes after head and neck cancer treatment

  • Coordination with instrumental swallow studies (Modified Barium Swallow, FEES) when they are needed

What to expect

Feeding and swallowing problems often have medical pieces, so we start by reading what your pediatrician, ENT, GI or neurologist has already found, and we'll tell you if we think an instrumental swallow study is needed before therapy starts. The evaluation itself is hands-on: we watch how you or your child actually eats and drinks, look at oral structures and movement, and identify what's making swallowing unsafe or eating unpleasant. Treatment ranges from compensatory strategies you can use today, to exercises that build strength and coordination, to graduated exposure for children who've learned to fear food. Most feeding and swallowing evaluations are in person; some follow-up sessions work well by telehealth.

 

Insurance, referrals and fees

We are in-network with Anthem, Cigna and Aetna. For other plans, we provide a coded receipt (superbill) for out-of-network reimbursement. Many plans require a physician's referral for feeding and swallowing therapy, and adult patients are often on Medicare; ask us when you call and we'll tell you what your plan needs before you commit to anything.

Questions about feeding and swallowing therapy

  • Picky eaters usually eat 30 or more foods, tolerate new foods on the plate and grow normally. A child who eats fewer than 20 foods, drops foods and never gets them back, gags or melts down at new textures, or isn't gaining weight has moved beyond picky. That's worth an evaluation.

  • A Modified Barium Swallow study or FEES lets a clinician watch the swallow in real time to see whether food or liquid is going toward the airway. If we suspect aspiration, we'll recommend one before or alongside therapy and help you arrange it.

  • Yes. Swallowing muscles respond to targeted exercise, and strategies like posture changes and diet modifications can make eating safe while strength returns.

  • Yes. Tongue thrust affects swallowing, speech sounds and sometimes dental alignment, and we often coordinate with orthodontists.

  • Evaluations and early sessions are usually in person. Once we know what's going on, parent-coaching sessions by video can work very well.

  • It depends on the cause. A tongue thrust program might run a few months; feeding aversions in young children can take longer. We'll give you an estimate after the evaluation.

Ready to talk?

Call or text (203) 539-9392, or fill out our form and we'll get back to you.

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