Speech-language pathologists bring a unique perspective to feeding and eating intervention that extends beyond oral-motor and swallowing skills to include language, cognition, communication, and learning. Language-based strategies can support cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, comparison, reasoning, and the ability to describe and understand food-related experiences. When combined with sensory and behavioral strategies from other disciplines, these skills provide additional pathways to support food exploration, acceptance, and participation. Recognizing the overlap between SLP and psychological domains is particularly important given the limited number of behavioral health professionals with specialized training in PFD and the resulting barriers to timely care. Expanding interdisciplinary collaboration and leveraging the complementary skill sets of SLPs and psychology professionals may increase access to comprehensive feeding treatment.

Jennifer Eggert MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT (she/her/hers)
Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, Lecturer, & Clinical Instructor
Past President Wisconsin Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Association (WSHA)