Occupational Therapy in the Clinic, School and At Home
Occupational Therapy in the Clinic, School and At Home
It’s a structured, evidence-based approach that supports children who experience difficulty with eating. Rather than focusing solely on increasing food intake, therapy works to identify and address the sensory, motor, emotional and behavioural factors that may be contributing to a child’s challenges at mealtimes.
Occupational therapists use a range of clinical models to support feeding, one of which is the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding. This method integrates sensory, motor, behavioural and cognitive strategies to help children gradually explore and engage with food in a stepwise, supported manner. While SOS is a well established approach, it is one of several evidence based models. Many share a foundation in exposure based therapy, where children build familiarity and tolerance through repeated, safe contact with food.
Feeding difficulties can arise for many reasons. Some children find certain textures, smells or tastes overwhelming. Others may have oral motor challenges that make chewing or swallowing uncomfortable. Children who have experienced distress during meals, such as reflux, choking or being pressured to eat, may associate food with discomfort or anxiety.
Feeding challenges can also relate to developmental or neurodivergent profiles. Sensory processing differences, a need for routine, or heightened anxiety can all influence how a child responds to food. What might appear as refusal is often an attempt to feel safe and in control.
Family dynamics and mealtime history also play a role. If eating has become a point of conflict or stress, children can come to associate mealtimes with negative emotions. Over time, this can reinforce avoidance and make it harder to try again. Feeding therapy works with these underlying factors, supporting change in a way that is respectful, gradual and informed by the child’s experience.
Many feeding therapy approaches draw from exposure therapy principles. Exposure therapy is typically used to support people with anxiety symptoms, helping them become more comfortable with feared situations through repeated, supported experiences. In feeding therapy, this framework is adapted to help children reduce fear and discomfort around food.
Rather than pushing children to eat, exposure-based feeding therapy focuses on allowing children to explore food in a calm and non-pressured way. A child might begin by sitting near a new food, then progress to touching it, smelling it and eventually tasting or chewing when they feel ready. Each stage is acknowledged as meaningful progress.
The aim is to increase a child’s sense of safety and confidence around food. Exposure is used to reduce anxiety and support functional improvement, not to enforce compliance.
In practice, exposure-based feeding therapy is calm, play-based and flexible. Children may work through steps such as:
Therapists are attuned to each child’s cues and adjust pace as needed. Food may be presented in playful or sensory friendly ways, such as cut into preferred shapes or used in a game. The focus is on exploration, not performance.
Parents and caregivers are closely involved in the process. They receive guidance on how to create opportunities for food exposure at home, without pressure. This helps children carry over what they’ve learned in therapy into everyday mealtimes.
Occupational therapists bring a broad perspective to feeding therapy. They consider how sensory processing, motor development, emotional regulation and environmental factors all contribute to mealtime experiences. Their assessment and intervention may include:
The focus is always on functional outcomes that support participation and quality of life. Therapists may work on helping a child tolerate a specific food texture, develop more coordinated chewing, or adjust routines to reduce stress at mealtimes.
At Evolve Therapy Services, we use a range of approaches, including SOS, and tailor them to each child’s needs. Whilst underpinned by evidence based approaches, no two feeding therapy plans are the same.
Evolve Therapy Services offers feeding therapy to children and families across Perth. We work with clients who face feeding challenges related to sensory preferences, anxiety, developmental conditions or adverse past experiences with food.
Our therapists are trained in evidence-based approaches and use structured, supportive strategies to help children engage more confidently with food. Therapy is always tailored to the individual child, as well as their family environment and goals.
Parents are an integral part of the therapy process. We equip caregivers with practical, sustainable strategies that can be used in everyday life. The aim is not only to expand the range of foods a child will eat, but to make mealtimes feel less stressful and more manageable.
Some families are seeking support for a range of challenges, whether related to regulation, sensory processing, motor skills or emotional development. Along the way, feeding and mealtime difficulties often emerge as key areas of concern.
When this happens, we integrate feeding goals into the broader therapy plan. Feeding therapy can be delivered alongside other occupational therapy supports, allowing us to respond to the whole child and work toward meaningful change across settings. We recognise that mealtimes and feeding can be part of a bigger picture.
Feeding therapy offers a way forward when mealtimes have become difficult. It gives children the space to build confidence with food and supports families with strategies that are realistic and grounded in daily life.
To find out more or book a session, get in touch with our team.
Sharp, W. G. et al., (2013). Feeding problems and nutrient intake in children with autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis and comprehensive review of the literature. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 43(9), 2159–2173.
Kerzner, B. et al., (2015). A practical approach to classifying and managing feeding difficulties. Pediatrics, 135(2), 344–353.
Cermak, et al., (2010). Food selectivity and sensory sensitivity in children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110(2), 238–246.
If you are looking for our other occupational therapy services, contact us online or give us a call.
If you are looking for our other occupational therapy services in Perth, contact us online or give us a call.
