In Home and Virtual
Occupational Therapy
Feeding Treatment
Assessment and Evaluation
Conducting comprehensive assessments to identify feeding challenges, sensory differences, and developmental milestones to create personalized therapy plans.
Feeding Intervention Programs
Designing and implementing individualized feeding therapy programs that may include strategies for improving oral motor skills, texture progression, and self-feeding abilities.
Sensory Integration Strategies
Utilizing sensory integration theory, regulation techniques, and environmental modifications to help children better process and respond to various sensory experiences related to food, enhancing their comfort and motivation to eat.
Family Feeding Consultation and Support
Providing individualized feeding consultations, training, and resources for parents, caregivers, and school providers to support their child’s feeding skills at home and in the community. Improve confidence in feeding practices and strategies to encourage positive, stress-free mealtime experiences.
I tailor feeding treatment to your child’s unique needs, taking into account their medical history, developmental stage, and specific feeding challenges. By using a comprehensive, individualized approach, I promise to collaborate with you to create strategies that promote safe and enjoyable mealtime experiences for everyone involved.
Who I serve
I serve families in the Portland, Oregon area with options for in home and telehealth sessions. I also see families in California via telehealth.
I have experience in treating children with the following:
- Oral phase dysphagia
- G-tube
- Delayed oral motor skills
- Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie)
- Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Developmental Coordination Disorder /Dyspraxia
- Trisomy 21 / Down Syndrome
- Other various genetic conditions
- Spina Bifida
- Prematurity
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
- Sensory Modulation Dysfunction
- Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Intellectual Disability
- Developmental Delay
It is important to recognize that children with complex medical diagnoses and feeding challenges often require an interdisciplinary care team. This may include a medical provider (such as a developmental pediatrician, gastroenterologist, or nurse practitioner), otolaryngologist (ENT), registered dietitian (RD), oral motor specialist (such as a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist), craniofacial specialist, or psychologist to establish safe feeding practices and manage dysphagia effectively as needed. As an occupational therapy provider, I will ensure that I refer out to and/or collaborate with additional providers when necessary, prioritizing your family’s goals and child’s safety, development, and growth to the best of my ability.
When should families seek feeding intervention?
You should pursue a feeding evaluation with a specialist(s) if your child shows combinations of the following symptoms that impact their ability to participate in mealtimes in a developmentally appropriate manner:
- Coughing or choking while eating, which may indicate struggles with swallowing safely
- Frequent vomiting or spitting up during or after meals
- Frequent respiratory infections or pneumonia
- Food or liquid coming out of their nose during feeding
- Difficulty gaining weight or not meeting growth expectations despite adequate feeding attempts
- Trouble coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing solid foods, leading to prolonged mealtimes or food avoidance
- Excessive drooling during or between meals
- Struggling to transition from purees to solid foods
- Poor lip closure, making it hard for them to keep food or liquids in their mouth
- Limited tongue mobility, making it hard to move food around in the mouth
- Reduced/hypersensitive gag reflex, which may indicate differences in sensing or managing food in the mouth
- Difficulty sitting up or maintaining posture during meals
- Difficulty self-feeding, such as trouble picking up finger food or bringing food to the mouth with/without utensils
- Difficulty using utensils such as loading spoons and forks with food
- Struggles with cup drinking, such as spilling liquids, difficulty bringing the cup to their mouth, or excessive coughing
- Difficulty drinking from a straw, or struggling to create a proper seal to suck effectively
- Refusing whole foods groups or textures
- Gagging when food is introduced, especially with new textures or flavors
- Hypersensitivity to food textures, tastes, or temperatures, causing food refusal or distress at meals
- Pocketing food in the cheeks rather than swallowing
- Meals that take too long or seem exhausting for your child
- Mealtimes are stressful for caregivers and the child
Hours
Sunday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Monday – Thursday: By Appointment Only
Friday: 9 – 4 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 4 PM
Occupational Therapy with Teresa Cao 