Feeding & Swallowing Disorders

A woman with blonde hair wearing a red shirt and blue gloves, smiling and engaging with a young child with curly hair, in a medical or dental office. The woman is holding a small device and the child is sitting at a table with various items, including cups, a plate with snacks, and stationery.

Feeding & Swallowing Evaluation and Therapy Services in the Black Hills

Comprehensive Evaluation & Treatment for Feeding, Swallowing, and Oral Function Across the Lifespan

Eating and swallowing are complex skills that require coordination between the muscles of the mouth, jaw, tongue, throat, airway, sensory systems, and nervous system. Difficulties in any part of this system can impact a person’s ability to eat safely, efficiently, and comfortably.

Feeding and swallowing challenges can occur at any age and may be related to developmental differences, medical conditions, neurological changes, structural differences, sensory-motor challenges, or injury.

At DSSC, we provide comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment for infants, children, teens, adults, and older adults experiencing feeding and swallowing concerns. Our approach considers the full feeding and swallowing system, including oral motor function, oral sensory processing, breathing coordination, swallowing safety, and functional participation in meals.

Services are available in person at our Rapid City clinic, through telehealth options when appropriate, and through mobile FEES services for qualifying settings and patients.

A young child with curly hair and blue eyes, sitting at a table with an empty bowl and a glass of drink, wearing a pink bib, with a surprised expression on their face, in a kitchen with sunlight and potted plants in the background.
A young child with curly hair and blue eyes, sitting at a table with an empty bowl and a glass of drink, wearing a pink bib, with a surprised expression on their face, in a kitchen with sunlight and potted plants in the background.

Common Signs of Feeding or Swallowing Concerns

Individuals may benefit from evaluation if they experience:

  • Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding

  • Feeding fatigue

  • Coughing or choking during meals

  • Wet or gurgly voice after eating or drinking

  • Difficulty chewing

  • Difficulty transitioning to solids

  • Limited food variety

  • Stress or avoidance during meals

  • Prolonged mealtimes

  • Difficulty managing textures

  • Changes in swallowing after illness, injury, or surgery

  • Concern from caregivers or medical providers

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Evaluations to Get to the Root of the Issue

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Our Process

Every evaluation begins with understanding the individual’s history, symptoms, and functional goals. We consider how feeding and swallowing skills impact nutrition, hydration, development, health, and quality of life.

Our evaluation may include assessment of:

  • Oral motor strength, coordination, and range of movement

  • Oral sensory responses and feeding behaviors

  • Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding skills

  • Chewing and oral preparation of food

  • Swallowing patterns and efficiency

  • Respiratory-swallow coordination

  • Signs of aspiration risk

  • Mealtime participation and routines

  • Food preferences and texture tolerance

  • Functional impact on daily life

When appropriate, instrumental assessment such as FEES may be recommended to better understand swallowing physiology and guide treatment planning.

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Feeding & Swallowing Concerns
We Evaluate & Treat

A baby is being fed with a bottle by an adult, likely a parent, with a close-up view of the baby's face showing it crying or fussing, while the adult's hand holds the bottle.

Infant Feeding & Early Feeding Development

Early feeding requires complex coordination between sucking, swallowing, breathing, oral movement, and sensory processing. Difficulties during infancy may impact feeding efficiency, growth, comfort, and caregiver confidence.

We evaluate and treat concerns related to:

  • Breastfeeding difficulties

  • Bottle-feeding challenges

  • Poor latch or inefficient milk transfer

  • Difficulty coordinating suck-swallow-breathe patterns

  • Fatigue during feeds

  • Oral motor limitations

  • Feeding-related stress or discomfort

  • Transitioning through early feeding milestones

Treatment may include caregiver education, feeding strategies, oral motor support, positioning recommendations, and collaboration with lactation consultants, dentists, physicians, and other providers when appropriate.

A young girl with a frown, sitting at a dining table with a plate of broccoli and carrots in front of her, and a glass of water nearby.

Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Disorders

Children may experience feeding and swallowing challenges related to development, medical history, sensory differences, oral motor skills, or structural differences.

We evaluate and treat:

  • Pediatric dysphagia

  • Difficulty transitioning between textures

  • Chewing difficulties

  • Limited food variety related to feeding skill challenges

  • Difficulty managing solids or liquids

  • Mealtime stress or avoidance

  • Reduced independence with eating

  • Oral motor coordination differences

  • Cup and straw drinking skills

Treatment focuses on building functional feeding skills, supporting positive mealtime experiences, and helping children safely participate in eating and drinking.

A young boy with short brown hair and wearing a striped shirt is holding a butterfly craft puppet made of colorful foam and sticks. An adult is gently touching his cheek while he looks at the puppet. There are various foam pieces on the white table in front of them.

Oral Motor & Oral Sensory-Motor Dysfunction

Efficient eating and swallowing require coordinated movement and sensory awareness of the lips, tongue, jaw, and oral structures.

Oral sensory-motor challenges may affect:

  • Chewing patterns

  • Bolus formation and management

  • Tongue movement

  • Lip closure

  • Oral awareness

  • Texture tolerance

  • Feeding independence

  • Saliva management

Treatment may include individualized oral motor and sensory-motor strategies to support functional eating and swallowing skills.

An older man with glasses and a beard, wearing a blue shirt, appears to be experiencing a sore throat or discomfort, holding his neck with one hand and a pair of chopsticks in the other, sitting at a table with a bowl.

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

Oropharyngeal dysphagia occurs when there are difficulties coordinating the oral and/or pharyngeal phases of swallowing.

Signs may include:

  • Coughing or choking during meals

  • Wet or gurgly voice after eating or drinking

  • Difficulty managing food or liquids

  • Food remaining in the mouth after swallowing

  • Increased effort during meals

  • Prolonged mealtimes

  • Changes in eating or drinking patterns

Evaluation helps identify swallowing impairments and determine appropriate treatment recommendations.

An elderly man with a bald head is drinking water from a glass, wearing a beige sweater and headphones with wires around his neck.

Adult Dysphagia & Neurological Swallowing Disorders

Swallowing changes in adults may occur following medical events, neurological conditions, injury, surgery, or changes associated with aging.

We evaluate and treat swallowing concerns related to:

  • Stroke

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Parkinson’s disease

  • Dementia and cognitive decline

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Head and neck cancer

  • Respiratory conditions

  • Other neurological or medical conditions

Treatment focuses on improving swallowing safety, efficiency, and quality of life.

We’re accepting new clients for speech therapy in Rapid City, SD

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