SensesWA’s SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Feeding Therapy Service comprises of a team of passionate allied health professionals with specialist training in feeding therapy.
The team uses a range of approaches to feeding therapy, including the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) approach. This is a world-renowned, evidence-based approach to feeding, developed by Dr Kaye Toomey in USA.
The approach helps fussy eaters and children with feeding problems to develop the skills they need to enjoy a balanced, healthy diet and a positive attitude towards food. It looks at increasing a child’s comfort level by interacting with food in a playful, non-stressful way. Beginning with tolerating the food in the room, moving on to touching, kissing, and eventually tasting and eating foods. It is a multi-disciplinary approach that assesses the ‘whole child’- to pinpoint the reason/s why a child is having difficulty with the skill of eating.
For older children/adolescents, a modified version of the program, ‘Food Scientist’ is also available through this service. This program encourages older children to explore, experiment with food, whilst increasing their education around food and nutrition.
SOS Feeding Therapy Service may be appropriate for your child if they present with:
- Limited variety of foods in diet
- Refusal of entire food groups
- Poor weight gain/ underweight
- Transitioning from tube-feeding to oral-feeding
- Mealtimes that are distressing for the family
Trained Allied Health Professionals
The allied health professionals that will be involved will depend on the specific needs of your child/family.
- Speech Pathology
- Occupational Therapy
- Dietetics
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology/Social Work
Location of Service
- Home
- Clinic
- School/child care
Referral
Our service receives referrals from families, Local Coordinators, GPs/Paediatricians and other health professionals for clients with a disability aged 0-17 years old.
If your child, or someone you know would benefit from feeding therapy, contact us on 1300 111 881.
