Feeding Therapy in Phnom Penh: How Occupational Therapy Helps Children With Eating Challenges

Does your child gag at the sight of certain foods, eat only a few textures, or refuse to sit at the table? Picky eating is common—but when it starts to affect nutrition, growth, or family routines, it may be time to consider feeding therapy. At OrbRom Center in Phnom Penh, our occupational therapists help children overcome sensory and motor-based eating difficulties in a gentle, child-centered way.

Feeding therapy focuses on building positive mealtime experiences, improving oral motor control, and expanding food acceptance—without pressure or force.

When Is Feeding Therapy Needed?

Your child may benefit from feeding therapy if they:

• Eat fewer than 10–15 foods consistently

• Avoid entire food groups (e.g., all meats, all vegetables)

• Gag, cough, or choke on certain textures

• Have trouble chewing or using utensils

• Experience extreme anxiety around food

• Are diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorder

Mealtime struggles are not always behavioral—they’re often rooted in oral motor weakness, sensory aversions, or past negative experiences.

Explore: What Is Occupational Therapy?

Common Underlying Issues in Feeding Difficulties

Occupational therapists assess the root causes of feeding issues, which may include:

• Oral-motor delays (difficulty chewing or moving food in the mouth)

• Low muscle tone in lips, tongue, or jaw

• Sensory aversions to smells, textures, or temperatures

• Poor coordination for self-feeding skills

• Negative mealtime habits or rigid routines

Understanding why a child avoids food is the first step toward successful intervention.

Also read: Change Clothes Checklist – Managing Routines

How Feeding Therapy Works at OrbRom Center

At OrbRom, we take a non-invasive, child-led approach based on trust and exploration. Therapy may include:

• Play-based food interaction (touching, smelling, licking without pressure to eat)

• Oral-motor exercises (blowing, chewing tubes, tongue movements)

• Texture progression (moving from soft to crunchy foods gradually)

• Desensitization techniques for food smells or appearances

• Utensil training and adaptive tools for self-feeding

• Visual mealtime routines to create predictability

We work in a calm, supportive environment that encourages curiosity—not control—around food.

Learn more: Sensory Integration and Regulation

Feeding Therapy for Children With Autism or Sensory Needs

Children with autism or sensory processing disorder often experience extreme food selectivity. Our therapists are trained to support:

• Rigid food preferences (e.g., only white foods or only crunchy textures)

• Mealtime anxiety and meltdowns

• Transitions to family meals or school lunch environments

• Integration with speech therapy for children with oral motor or communication needs

Feeding therapy is tailored to each child’s sensory profile and developmental level.

What Parents Can Expect

We partner with parents to:

• Create home feeding plans

• Introduce new foods gradually

• Reduce power struggles at meals

• Build positive food routines

• Track nutrition and progress over time

Even small gains—like smelling a new food or sitting at the table—can be major victories.

Also see: Parenting Autistic Children – Mealtime Tools

Why Choose OrbRom Center for Feeding Therapy?

Families in Phnom Penh choose OrbRom for:

• Pediatric occupational therapists with feeding therapy expertise

• Sensory-friendly, low-stress therapy rooms

• Individualized food exposure plans

• Coordination with speech therapists and nutritionists when needed

• Bilingual support for Khmer- and English-speaking families

We support the whole child, not just the eating issue—building confidence, calm, and healthy habits.

Final Thoughts: From Mealtime Stress to Mealtime Success

Feeding difficulties can feel isolating—but you’re not alone. With occupational therapy at OrbRom Center in Phnom Penh, children can learn to explore and enjoy food in a safe, supportive way. Whether it’s chewing, tasting, or sitting through a meal, we help children grow—one bite at a time.

Schedule a feeding therapy consultation at OrbRom Center