FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WILL YOU PUT OUR ME/OUR FAMILY ON A “DIET”?
No!! We want everyone to eat food that works for them. We recognise that food looks different in every home for a bunch of reasons, and that is perfectly ok. We are not the food police or body shamers, our job is to help people connect with food and feel good about themselves.
**However if someone in your family has a medical condition that prevents them from eating certain foods we will certainly advise to omit those foods.
WHEN SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILD’S EATING?
You know your child better than anyone else. If you are worried, it's worth booking in for an assessment.
Other things to look out for are:
• Loss of weight; we are always concerned when children loose weight, especially if it is unexplained.
• Dropping more and more foods from the preferred list.
• Cutting out food groups, eg. meat, dairy, "carbs” and/or “healthy eating” that seems extreme.
• If mealtimes are making you anxious or are stressful for your family.
WHEN WOULD A CHILD OR TEEN ENGAGE IN FEEDING THERAPY?
Feeding therapy is helpful for anyone that has a limited range of preferred foods, sensory sensitivities or anxiety that impacts their food preferences or ability to eat with others. We often see this in people that have allergies, coeliac disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), anxiety.
WHAT HAPPENS IN FEEDING THERAPY?
In feeding therapy children are invited to explore foods in a respectful and non-threatening environment. They learn skills to help manage sensory sensitivities and anxiety related to food. We teach them words and phrases to describe the sensory characteristics of food and express their own sensory preferences. Continued feeding therapy assists children to develop a bank of strategies to manage sensory challenges and anxiety, helping them to feel confident eating at home and in social settings.
WILL MY HEALTH INSURANCE COVER DIETITIAN SERVICES?
Some health insurance policies include dietitian services. If you are unsure you can check with your insurance company. If you are eligible under your health insurance there may still be a 'gap' payment required.
WILL MEDICARE COVER DIETITIAN SERVICES?
You maybe eligible for dietitian sessions under Medicare this is something to discuss with your GP. If you are eligible for medicare sessions there will still be a 'gap' payment required.
WILL NDIS COVER DIETITIAN SERVICES?
If you are a self managed or plan managed NDIS participant and our services align with your goals. If you are unsure you should check with your Local Area Co-ordinator (LAC).