Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you take insurance?
We do not take insurance at this time. We are happy to provide you with a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Do you see patients outside of the Austin area?
Our team is licensed in the state of Texas and can provide telehealth services to families across the state.
When will I know to seek help?
We believe that prevention and early intervention are essential for successful feeding, but it’s never too late to seek help. Parents often reach out for support due to issues like limited intake, poor weight gain, prolonged feeding times, stress during feedings (for either the parent or child), coughing or choking while eating, recurring respiratory illnesses, or frequent spit-up and discomfort. If you’re still unsure, the organization Feeding Matters has created a brief questionnaire to help assess whether support might be beneficial for you.
Why does an SLP help with feeding?
Speech-language pathologists (SLP) are recognized as the “most qualified provider” for assessment and treatment of feeding difficulties because of the in-depth education they receive during their graduate program covering topics such as dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), the anatomy and physiology of the head and neck, child development, and neurology. This equips them with a very specific set of knowledge to understand and address the intricacies of eating and swallowing difficulties. Our team of SLPs is highly trained in the evaluation and treatment of bottle AND breastfeeding, as well as alternative routes of nutrition such as tube-feeding, offering a skilled approach to every individual feeding journey.
What will help look like?
Help will look different for every family. Our approach is referred to as “cue-based feeding” meaning that understanding and responding to your baby’s cues is what guides feeding. We will teach you common hunger, fullness, and stress cues that will help you understand your baby’s feeding. This will also help guide our intervention to optimize your baby’s feeding through feeding positions, managing flow rate of breast and/or bottle, paced feeding, and more.
How many sessions should I anticipate needing?
This varies from family to family. We have some families that benefit significantly from the initial appointment and only book a follow up appointment if needed. We have others that benefit from more frequent follow up visits. Your clinician will be able to assist in determining whether additional visits are recommended.
How will Nest work with my child’s care team?
We know the value of each member on a child’s care team and will work directly and collaboratively with any relevant members.
My child has a pre-existing medical diagnosis. Can Nest support our feeding journey?
Yes. Our team of clinicians is highly trained and experienced in the evaluation and treatment of children with complex medical needs. Diagnoses that we are comfortable with treating includes but is not limited to: genetic disorders (Trisomy 21, DiGeorge, Noonans), congenital heart defects, airway abnormalities (laryngomalacia, laryngeal cleft, vocal fold paralysis), cleft lip and palate, GI disorders (GERD, EOE), prematurity, and neurological disorders (Cerebal Palsy, HIE, IVH, seizures).
My child has a feeding tube. Are you comfortable with supporting them?
Yes. Our team has extensive experience working with children with nasogastric tubes and gastrostomy tubes. We can work with your child’s medical team to safely and appropriately increase oral feeding and wean tube feeding.