Pediatric Feeding Evaluation
A pediatric feeding evaluation helps determine how your child is eating, what skills are developing as expected, and where support may be helpful. Based in the North Hills and serving the greater Pittsburgh area, I complete feeding evaluations in your home to observe familiar foods, routines, and mealtime patterns. This allows for accurate, individualized recommendations that reflect how your child eats every day.
What a Pediatric Feeding Evaluation Includes
The evaluation provides a comprehensive look at your child’s feeding skills and mealtime patterns. This may include:
- Review of medical, developmental, and feeding history
- Discussion of your child’s current foods, routines, and challenges
- Observation of a typical meal or snack
- Assessment of oral‑motor skills (chewing, tongue movement, bolus control)
- Assessment of sensory‑motor responses to textures, temperatures, and visual properties
- Review of positioning, utensils, and mealtime environment
What We Assess
- Oral‑motor skills — include how the tongue moves food side‑to‑side, how the lips seal around a spoon or straw, how the cheeks stabilize food, and how the jaw breaks down textures.
- Texture progression — ability to manage purees, meltables, soft solids, and mixed textures
- Sensory‑motor responses — tolerance of textures, temperatures, smells, and visual properties
- Functional mealtime participation — pacing, routines, and caregiver‑child interactions
- Signs of Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) when oral‑motor, sensory‑motor, or behavioral components impact feeding
What Happens During the Evaluation
A typical evaluation lasts 60–75 minutes and includes:
- A brief conversation about your child’s feeding history
- Observation of your child eating familiar foods
- Gentle skill‑based assessment through play or exploration
- Review of mealtime routines, positioning, and environmental factors
- Discussion of findings and recommended next steps
What You'll Receive After the Evaluation
- A clear explanation of your child’s feeding strengths and needs
- Recommendations for next steps
- Strategies you can begin using right away
- A plan for therapy, if appropriate
- Referrals to other providers (GI, nutrition, OT, PT) when needed
Who Benefits from a Feeding Therapy Evaluation
An evaluation may be helpful if your child:
- Eats fewer than 15–20 foods
- Refuses entire food groups
- Gags, coughs, or struggles with certain textures
- Has difficulty chewing or managing solids
- Shows strong reactions to textures or temperatures
- Has feeding challenges related to prematurity, reflux, or oral‑motor delays
Pricing
Evaluation pricing is shared upfront before scheduling. Please reach out for current rates. A referral is not required for a feeding evaluation with Melissa at Borza Feeding Therapy.
Schedule a Consultation
If you’re unsure whether your child needs a feeding evaluation, you’re welcome to schedule a no‑obligation 15‑minute phone conversation. We can review what you’re noticing and determine whether an evaluation is appropriate.
Feeding Therapy Session FAQs
How long are the sessions? Feeding therapy treatment sessions are typically 30 minutes. Your child will participate in a meal or snack, and the remaining time is used for parent coaching, support, and feeding therapy techniques.
How long will my child be in feeding therapy? Every child progresses at their own pace. I will work closely with your family to create a personalized pediatric feeding therapy plan based on your child’s strengths, needs, and goals. As your child grows and learns, the plan is adjusted to support continued progress.
Will there be homework? Yes—simple, manageable home practice is an important part of progress in pediatric feeding therapy. You may be given small steps to try during the week or a focus for each meal. I also provide fun tracking tools, goal‑based placemats, and activities to help keep mealtimes positive and encouraging.
How long will my child be in feeding therapy? Every child progresses at their own pace. I will work closely with your family to create a personalized pediatric feeding therapy plan based on your child’s strengths, needs, and goals. As your child grows and learns, the plan is adjusted to support continued progress.
Will there be homework? Yes—simple, manageable home practice is an important part of progress in pediatric feeding therapy. You may be given small steps to try during the week or a focus for each meal. I also provide fun tracking tools, goal‑based placemats, and activities to help keep mealtimes positive and encouraging.
