Feeding and Growth Disorders

What Are Feeding and Growth Disorders?

Feeding and growth disorders refer to difficulties related to eating, nutrient absorption, weight gain, and physical development in infants and children. These issues may arise due to medical, behavioral, psychological, or environmental factors and can lead to growth delays, malnutrition, and developmental concerns if not identified early.

Timely intervention can help children overcome these challenges and achieve healthy growth and development milestones.

Types of Feeding and Growth Disorders

Feeding Disorders

These are difficulties with sucking, chewing, swallowing, or accepting food—commonly seen in infants, toddlers, and children with special needs.

Examples include:

• Oral motor dysfunction (e.g., weak sucking or chewing)
• Sensory-based feeding aversion (picky eating, food refusal)
• Feeding refusal due to medical conditions (e.g., reflux, allergies)
• Behavioral feeding disorders (e.g., tantrums during mealtimes)

Growth Disorders

These occur when a child is not gaining weight or growing in height as expected for their age and gender.

Examples include:

• Failure to thrive (FTT) – significant drop in weight or growth curve
• Short stature – height below the 3rd percentile for age
• Growth hormone deficiency
• Nutritional deficiencies or malabsorption
• Chronic illnesses affecting growth (e.g., heart, kidney, GI disorders)

Causes and Risk Factors

Feeding Disorder Causes:

• Prematurity or low birth weight
• Structural issues (e.g., cleft lip/palate, tongue-tie)
• Neurological conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy)
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Reflux or gastrointestinal pain
• Negative feeding experiences (choking, force-feeding)

Growth Disorder Causes:

• Inadequate caloric intake or nutrient absorption
• Chronic infections or illnesses
• Hormonal imbalances
• Genetic or syndromic conditions
• Psychosocial neglect or poor caregiving environment

Symptoms to Watch For

Feeding Problems:

• Difficulty sucking, chewing, or swallowing
• Refusing to eat or drink
• Frequent choking or gagging during meals
• Extreme food preferences or aversions
• Mealtime tantrums or stress
• Poor weight gain despite feeding

Growth Concerns:

• Inadequate weight gain or weight loss
• Slow height growth or short stature
• Delayed milestones (e.g., walking, speech)
• Lethargy or lack of interest in activity
• Loose skin or visible ribs in malnourished children

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves a multidisciplinary approach including pediatricians, dietitians, speech and feeding therapists, and endocrinologists.

Assessment may include:

• Growth chart evaluation (height, weight, head circumference)
• Dietary history and feeding behavior observation
• Medical history and physical exam
• Blood tests for anemia, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid, or hormone levels
• Imaging tests (bone age X-ray, GI imaging if needed)
• Swallow study in children with suspected aspiration or reflux

Treatment and Management

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. It often requires a personalized and team-based approach.

1. Feeding Therapy

• Conducted by speech-language pathologists or occupational therapists
• Focuses on improving oral motor skills, chewing, swallowing, and food acceptance

2. Nutritional Support

• Customized meal plans to increase calorie and nutrient intake
• High-calorie formulas or supplements
• Tube feeding (NG or G-tube) in severe cases

3. Medical Management

• Treating underlying GI, hormonal, or systemic conditions
• Reflux medications, allergy management, or enzyme replacement

4. Behavioral Interventions

• Family counseling to reduce mealtime anxiety
• Positive reinforcement strategies to encourage healthy eating
• Scheduled mealtimes and structured routines

5. Growth Hormone Therapy

• For diagnosed growth hormone deficiency (under endocrinologist guidance)

Long-Term Outlook

With early diagnosis and the right support:

• Most children with feeding or growth disorders catch up on development
• Regular follow-ups are needed to track growth, nutrition, and milestones
• In complex cases, long-term care coordination with specialists may be necessary

Why Choose Aster Hospitals for Pediatric Nutrition and Growth Care?

Aster Hospitals offers comprehensive evaluation and personalized care for children facing feeding and growth challenges. Our expert team includes pediatricians, neonatologists, endocrinologists, speech and feeding therapists, and clinical dietitians who work together to address every aspect of your child’s development. We provide oral motor and swallowing therapy, customized meal planning, and weight gain strategies tailored to each child's needs. Specialized care is available for preterm infants, low birth weight babies, and children with syndromic conditions. When needed, we offer growth hormone testing and therapy. Through family education and ongoing counseling, we empower parents to support their child’s progress at home. At Aster, we’re dedicated to nurturing your child’s health, growth, and confidence—one bite and one milestone at a time.