this is all very helpful…thanks…i will try these places

For similar issues we were referred to Speech by Children's Hospital OT. We used The Language Experience.

You may want to look into a speech pathologist that specialized in feeding therapy (though some OT's do this as well). Our person was phenomenal but she is based out of Baltimore - not sure where she travels to, her name is Nina Ayd Johanson.

OP,

You could work with an OT or a ST therapist for this. I can highly recommend Sensational Kids Therapy in NW as an OT for the sensory issues.

You might also find this book helpful:
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Take-Bite-Effective-Challenges/dp/1932565124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405643516&sr=8-1&keywords=just+take+a+bite+by+lori+ernsperger

Can anyone recommend a specialist in NOVA or DC -- I think this would be an OT, not totally sure -- to work with an elementary-aged kid on chewing? He is a very picky and slow eater but a lot of his complaints have to do with the texture of food or how hard it is to chew, etc. He won't bite anything with his front teeth (like an apple or corn) and it takes him a long time to chew and swallow even well-cooked meat or stringy vegetables. The dentist and an orthodontist have examined him and don't think it's anything dental. I heard that there are "chewing" specialists and thought this board might have ideas. TIA.