Feeding therapy for “low oral tone” addresses the muscular strength and coordination of the mouth, tongue, and jaw. Clinically, if the muscles of the mouth are “floppy” (hypotonia), a child will struggle to chew varied textures, often leading to a diet restricted to soft foods or liquids. This isn’t just “picky eating”—it’s a physical inability to manage the bolus (the ball of food) safely and efficiently in the mouth.
Our therapists work on sensory-motor feeding protocols to increase “intra-oral awareness.” This involves using specific tools and exercises to “wake up” the muscles and teach the tongue how to move food to the back teeth for grinding. For parents in Dubai and Sharjah, where family meals are a central part of culture, improving a child’s feeding ability reduces mealtime stress and ensures the child gets the nutrition needed for overall brain development.
The “Resistive Chewing” Home Win
Include “resistive” snacks in your child’s lunchbox for their Sharjah school, such as dried mango, thick crusty bread, or baby carrots. These “heavy” textures act like a “gym workout” for the jaw muscles, helping to build the strength and endurance needed for more efficient eating and, eventually, clearer speech production.
Specialist FAQ
- Why does my child always have their mouth open or drool?
This is a classic sign of low oral-motor tone. The muscles aren’t strong enough to keep the jaw closed at rest. Feeding therapy directly addresses the strength needed to resolve this.
- Is feeding therapy just for babies?
Not at all. We see children of all ages who have “pockets” of weakness that make eating certain textures difficult or cause them to gag on foods common in UAE cuisine.
- How is feeding related to speech?
They use the exact same muscles! If a child doesn’t have the “tongue dissociation” (moving the tongue independently of the jaw) to chew a steak, they will likely struggle with sounds like “L,” “R,” or “T.”
Make mealtimes a joy again with specialized support at Neurobloom Rehabilitation Centre, Al Nahda 2, Dubai. Call 0507548629 to speak with a feeding specialist.
