Abu Dhabi, UAE; September 26, 2024: Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, part of the M42 group, has launched a comprehensive feeding clinic designed to address a variety of feeding challenges in children, including extreme pickiness. This means mealtime battles may soon become a thing of the past– reducing stress for the whole family.
Children across the globe go through a picky eating phase between the ages of two and five, but this can begin even earlier. From unusual behaviors, picky eating and swallowing safely to restricted diets, it may be a struggle for both parents and the child. Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children’s new comprehensive feeding clinic is more than just teaching children to eat appropriately; its primary purpose is to help children and their families develop effective feeding behaviors and patterns.
Working closely with the families, specialists at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children will determine the difficulties in feeding and develop personalized, strategic, and specific therapies to support in this journey. The comprehensive feeding clinic’s team of experts includes pediatric gastroenterologists, speech and language pathologists, psychologists and dietitians who collaborate to create personalized plans to help children overcome mealtime struggles. Together, they will offer comprehensive evaluations and support for issues such as extreme pickiness, difficulty chewing or swallowing, sensory issues, tube-feeding dependence, and pain or discomfort while eating.
Taking a holistic approach centered on the child’s medica and nutritional needs, feeding abilities, and psychological well-being, the clinic aims to streamline the treatment journey and enhance outcomes for young patients and their families. This includes catering to the needs of all children, including those with chromosomal abnormalities, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, and various gastrointestinal problems, including reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis.
Dr. Ala Shaikh Khalil, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children said, “We’ve noticed that many of our patients struggle with feeding problems. We understand that mealtimes can be a source of frustration and stress when children are very picky or have feeding and swallowing difficulties. This is why our team created the comprehensive feeding clinic. Issues range from difficulty handling certain textures to more severe problems like food entering the lungs instead of the GI tract, which often requires tube feeding.”
“Feeding problems in young children are complex and require an interdisciplinary approach. Our patient-centered approach works closely with families throughout the treatment process to help achieve the best outcomes. Having all the support available at Danat Al Emarat ensures that families get a full continuum of care. This means all the support they need is all available in one place, with a unified set of recommendations, after telling their story just once,” Dr. Ala added.
Crucial psychological support
Dr. Summia Zaher, Chief Executive Officer and Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children said, “In our commitment to enriching the lives of the families in our care, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children is delighted to launch our new specialized clinic dedicated to addressing childhood feeding challenges. We understand the profound importance of nurturing not only our children’s physical health but also their emotional and psychological well-being. Our goal is to make feeding both safe and pleasurable for the child and their family.”
Dr. Ala emphasized the importance of a personalized treatment plan. She said, “We assess each child to ensure there are no undiagnosed medical issues, optimize their nutrition, ensure safe and efficient feeding practices and provide crucial psychological support to both the child and their family.”
Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children is committed to building healthy communities through these initiatives designed to assist families in overcoming feeding challenges. For more information or to schedule an appointment at the feeding clinic please contact 800 96626 or email ap**********@***********at.ae