Some amount of gagging is normal for babies who are starting solid foods and normal in children who are introduced to a new food for the first time. However, if your child gags on his food frequently, it’s time to seek professional help. He may have a feeding or swallowing disorder that can be helped with occupational therapy.
You’ll first want to check with your child’s pediatrician to rule out a medical issue such as a craniofacial abnormality, cleft palate, food allergy or intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux disease, large tonsils, or enlarged adenoids. Once medical causes are explored, our board-certified occupational and speech therapists with Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy, with two offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, are trained in therapeutic techniques to help your child overcome his feeding or swallowing disorder.
Signs of a feeding disorder
Frequent gagging on food is one sign of a feeding or swallowing disorder. It may be combined with other signs that something is wrong. Following are other symptoms to look for:
- Coughing or choking frequently
- Gurging when talking after eating
- Refusing food
- Spitting out partially eaten food
- Drooling
- Not drinking much liquid
- Taking an extremely long time to eat
- Eating few foods
- Isn’t gaining weight
Being born prematurely or having a developmental disorder increases the risk of your child having a feeding disorder. You want to get a handle on this problem before your child develops too much anxiety about eating.
Why is my child gagging?
Gagging is the body’s natural defense mechanism to protect it from ingesting food that may be harmful. Since you’re not feeding your child anything harmful, why is he gagging frequently? Following are some of the common causes of feeding disorders in children.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder. Your child has a hard time moving food from his mouth to his stomach. The problem can start in the mouth, throat, or esophagus, and it’s usually a neuromuscular problem that can be ameliorated with occupational therapy. Gagging can be a sign of a stress reaction because it’s difficult for him to swallow his food.
Sensory issues
Your child may have sensory processing differences, which can cause difficulties with feeding and eating. Children with sensory processing disorder may only eat a very limited number of foods and refuse to try new foods, or they may gag when trying a food with a new texture.
Effects of a medical condition
Even if your child gets treatment for the medical condition that caused his feeding problem, he may need some therapy to overcome his negative conditioned responses to food, such as gagging and exhibiting other feeding problem symptoms. If eating has been a difficult activity, he’s been conditioned to avoid it.
Treatment for feeding and swallowing disorders
If your child’s problem is neuromuscular, your child’s therapist at Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy helps him improve oral motor skills involved in chewing and swallowing food. If your child has sensory issues or leftover habits from a medical condition, his therapist engages him in fun games with different foods so he can first touch them with his hands to get used to different food textures and then gradually begin introducing them into his mouth. She also works with you to help you initiate new positive associations with mealtime.
Call or send an online message to Little Wonders Pediatric Therapy today for a private consultation on how we can help your child enjoy his food and develop an age-appropriate oral intake.
