By Melanie Potock
Feeding disorders affect 25 to 45 percent of typically developing children and up to 80 percent of children with special needs and/or chronic health issues. A āfeeding disorderā diagnosis applies toĀ a child who canāt consume a balanced diet of age-appropriate food or liquid to support steady growth and development.Ā When speech-language pathologists and other health care professionals treat a child with a feeding disorder, they work toward improving the childās ability to eat a variety of foods.