Feeding & Myofunctional

Services

Habits can be hard to break, whether it’s picky eating, pacifier use, thumb-sucking and more.

We are here to help encourage your child to try new things in a welcoming environment.

Feeding Evaluations

Feeding + Myofunctional

  • These evaluations assess oral structure and function that can impact speech, feeding, and breathing, including:

    • Tongue, lip, and buccal ties

    • Tongue resting posture

    • Tongue thrust and swallow patterns

    • Oral motor coordination

    Evaluations are completed by a trained myofunctional therapist.

  • We evaluate feeding concerns related to the oral preparation and oral transit phases of eating (no pharyngeal swallowing), including:

    • Using lips, teeth, and tongue to manage food

    • Transitioning from purees to complex textures

    • Picky eating and limited food repertoires

    • Feeding challenges related to sensory needs or food allergies

    Our approach is child-led, supportive, and pressure-free.

Treatment

Feeding therapy starts with exploration.

  • Feeding therapy focuses on the oral phase of feeding, including oral preparation and oral transit—how the lips, teeth, and tongue work together to manage food in the mouth.

    • Picky eaters and limited food repertoires

    • Transitioning from bottle to solids

    • Moving from purees to more complex textures

    • Feeding challenges related to sensory needs or food allergies

    ‍ Therapy is supportive, pressure-free, and child-centered.

  • Orofacial-Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) addresses oral posture, muscle coordination, and movement patterns that can impact speech, feeding, and breathing. Areas we address include:

    • Tongue resting posture

    • Tongue thrust and swallow patterns

    • Impact of tongue, lip, or cheek ties

    • Oral motor coordination and function

    • Lateral lisp and frontal lisp

    • Thumb-sucking and pacifier use

    Therapy is functional, collaborative, and individualized.

Payment Options

Chickadee Chatter is currently in-network with the following insurances:

Out-of-Network & Private Pay

Out-of-Network:
If your insurance is not listed above, services may still be accessed using your out-of-network benefits. Payment is due at the time of service. A Superbill can be provided upon request. Reimbursement is determined by your insurance provider.

Private Pay:
Families may also choose our private pay option. Private pay services are self-funded, are not submitted to insurance, and do not apply toward your deductible.

For a private pay service quote, email:
info@chickadeechatter.com

FAQs

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FAQs *

  • If your child has an updated evaluation from their school or another clinic that was completed within the last two years, we typically do not need a new evaluation. It may be recommended to update information in other speech and language areas that were not evaluated.

  • Most Chickadee Chatter providers are in-network with:

    • Aetna

    • Anthem BCBS

    • Community Health Options

    • Cigna

    • Harvard Pilgrim

    • MaineCare

    • United HealthCare.

    If your insurance is not listed or does not cover therapy, we have private pay options (with discounts available.) We accept online payments with credit/debit, HSA/FSA, checks or cash.

  • Our current therapy fee starts at $65 and increases, depending on the length of service time and type of service. Our evaluation fee starts at $200.

  • Both at our office location in Springvale and outdoor therapy space in Shapleigh. We also offer services in-person at your homes on our travel routes in Shapleigh, Waterboro and surrounding areas, and online via teletherapy.

  • Yes! Sometimes school services do not always address communication difficulties that are occurring in their home environment. Outpatient services help provide supports directly to the families in comparison to the academic focus that occurs in the schools.

  • If you decide that your previous provider was not the right fit, you can give us all of the information from where they left off with the other provider. We can discuss the previous plan of care and decide if there are any changes that need to be made together.