Food anxiety from sensory issues

DS is 4 years old. Always had a feeding issue. Started when we tried baby food a little after 4 months old. He screamed and cried during his first feeding. Tried it for over a week bc I got the advise that he just has to get used to it. Finally the Ped said he's just not ready and to wait. He was fine with formula.
Tried again with fruits at 7 months and did better, but it had to be smooth. Anything thick made him gag and sometimes throwup. He had these issues for a while. At around 15 months he was evaluated and qualified for speech and OT. They said he has sensory issues and dev delays. That was pretty much it. No real definition. He was pretty much on the bottle till 18 months and babyfood till about 2 years. Now he only has the same foods everyday. The theory of let him starve doesn't work bc he will. I see the anxiety when other foods are around him. I just don't know what to do anymore. I've seen a few feeding therapists, but they gave me some advise and were very expensive. He's in special Ed preschool where he gets Speech and OT. I may have to see about feeding. We are in NJ so not sure if it's different in NY.
My mom wants to take him to the childrens hospital in Philly bc she sees his anxiety when it comes to food. It drives her nuts. LOL
Don't know what to do. I guess I've been letting him just have his foods, which are healthy. Although it gets annoying when we go out to eat, bday parties, etc. I always have to bring something for him separate.
Thanks

Re: Food anxiety from sensory issues

I am not sure what type of feeding specialist you saw or spoke to but I would definitely look to one that has experience with the SOS method. I think it addresses the sensory system really well.

The basic premise is to subtly make a sensory change to a preferred food. Visual change usually is accepted the easiest. So if your son eats a certain food that has a particular shape, change the shape. If he eats sandwiches, make them into a different shape. Then gradually change the color, (maybe toast the bread or put some coloring on it). Eventually work on changing tastes...if he eats apple sauce add something a bit different to alter the taste. Texture is the most difficult but you can ingredients or remove them change the texture of food. Remember stick with the preferred foods. Then gradually link foods by texture ..and then add them in tiny amounts mixed in. For instance, fish nuggets, mix in with chicken nuggets (like one fish nugget, and then keep gradually increasing until fish rules the plate).

Texture really can confuse the brain, since the oral motor muscles need to know what to do with a new texture. So much motor planning is involved and it can greatly affect anxiety.

For instance, my daughter couldn't handle pasta or bananas until recently. Her neurological system couldn't figure out what to do with this item that looks "solid' but is really quite buttery. Interestingly enough, when she started eating one, she was able to eat the other, which is why, I am not a fan of behavioral approaches to feeding.

It's a really slow process and with maturity things may change a bit more rapidly.

You may want to get in touch with the SPD foundation and see if they can recommend an OT who is near you.

Re: Food anxiety from sensory issues

My nephew was diagnosed at 11 months, because of delays and what you are describing about food. He was just on the bottle and baby jarred food. My nephew received feeding therapy at 1 year and this therapist desensitized his mouth. I know he was receiving 40 hours of therapy a week by a year old. He is now 2.5 and eats everything.
But it was exactly how you described with the gagging and throwing up with anything that wasn't pureed.

Re: Food anxiety from sensory issues

My DD is 2 and has been seeing a dysphasia doctor for almost a yr bc she would gag and choke on everything ! She is making progress but they also realized she has reflux so they put her on meds for that and like the PP said they do things to desensitize her mouth ! I would definitely get another opinion

Re: Food anxiety from sensory issues

Re: Food anxiety from sensory issues

Oh boy I can relate to this!

Have you taken your son to see a pediatric gastroenterologist? It is entirely possible that he had a medical problem in infancy leading to the feeding difficulty and current food anxiety. It is possible that he still has a medical issue, or it could be something that resolved with only anxiety remaining.

In NJ I recommend Dr. Joel Rosh at Morristown. There is also someone I really liked in Brooklyn (who probably saved my son from needing a feeding tube by age 3)but that may be too far for you. And then there is a psychiatrist who works specifically with kids who have food phobias that are not strictly sensory based, in Manhattan.

My son had a similar food history. I first thought it was sensory, combined with having had reflux in infancy. But long after the reflux was gone, he was becoming failure to thrive. Now at age 5 it is clear this was not strictly due to sensory dysfunction, though he does have that. If feeding therapy isn't really working, I would explore this path.
It is possible that if there is some physical issue, say reflux, or intolerance to a food leading to physical discomfort, his sensory system may amplify the sensations and he may associate all the "unsafe" and "unknown" foods with a negative feeling.
If you want more info feel free to contact me.

Re: Food anxiety from sensory issues

I forgot to add that before any feeding program, such as CHOP, will work with a child, they require a thorough medical eval to rule out any medical issues anyway.

My experience is that some GI docs are more open minded to dealing with this than others, in that some go by the book and won't be helpful if they don't have concrete evidence of a problem (labs, exam, possible endoscopy), while some docs will listen to a detailed history and current behavior in addition, before making a plan of action.
Good luck