Pediatric Feeding Disorders

Kathryn K. Basco, M.A. CCC-SLP

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

Prerequisites Required
6 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Item: physi-ONDEMANDCFEEKB1

Description

Research indicates that 25% of children present with some form of a feeding disorder. For children with developmental delays this number increases to 80%. Disordered feeding can be the result of oral-motor dysfunction, sensory challenges, medical conditions, behavior, or a combination of these conditions. From infants to toddlers, feeding challenges can also have a profound effect on the child/caregiver relationship. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, practitioners can use assessment information to develop a comprehensive intervention plan addressing feeding challenges to support positive outcomes for the child and family.

This interactive course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to conduct a feeding assessment and identify specific feeding challenges in infants and toddlers. The basis of feeding disorders will be explored including oral motor dysfunction and sensory-based challenges. Picky eating and behavior components will also be addressed. Participants will leave this one-day course with practical strategies and intervention techniques for improved bottle and breast feeding, cup drinking, expanding a child's food repertoire, tolerance of different tastes, textures, and consistencies, and support of oral motor skill development. Nutrition and medical considerations will be discussed for the complicated feeder including food allergies, food sensitivities, and weaning from tube feedings. An array of nipples, bottles, cups, and utensils will be available for hands-on exploration. Criteria for choosing or modifying seating and positioning options will be presented. Coaching strategies for parents and caregivers will also be presented to support carryover of feeding skills. Video examples and case studies will be used to reinforce concepts.

Highlights

  • Immediately use strategies and intervention techniques to improve a child's feeding skills, expand food repertoire, transition to different tastes, textures, and consistencies, and make mealtime enjoyable for the whole family
  • Utilize practical assessment information for evaluating infant feeding skills and differentiate a child's picky eating fromoral-motor or sensory-based feeding challenges
  • Learn how to choose or modify seating and positioning for optimal support during feeding to limit gastrointestinal issues and airway restrictions
  • Integrate nutrition, food allergies, and medical considerations into intervention plans for complicated feeders
  • Feel confident in providing parent education and coaching strategies to support carryover of strategies and skills
  • Hands-on exploration of various feeding implements such as nipples, bottles, cups, straws, utensils, etc.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain age appropriate feeding skill development from birth - 36 months.
  2. Identify typical versus atypical feeding patterns in breast- fed and bottle-fed infants.
  3. Differentiate between behavioral, oral-motor, and sensory-based feeding disorders.
  4. Utilize assessment information to develop an appropriate therapeutic intervention plan.
  5. List various modifications for optimal seating and positioning for successful feeding.
  6. Utilize strategies and techniques for expanding food repertoire, introducing new foods, supporting self-feeding, and improving oral motor skill development.
  7. Discuss nutritional and medical considerations for complicated feeders.
  8. Apply coaching strategies to use with parents for successful carryover.

Course Content

Pediatric Feeding Disorders
SCORM Package
Next Steps
Module
  1. Typical Feeding Patterns for Infants and Young Children
    1. Age appropriate feeding skills from birth - 36 months
    2. Oral motor patterns in breast fed vs bottle fed infants
    3. Influence of the pacifier on oral anatomy
    4. From breast milk to formula to solids and beyond
    5. Nutritional considerations: How much and how often?From birth - 36 months
    6. Utensil use and cup drinking: What are the expectations from birth - 36 months?
  2. The Root Causes of a Feeding Disorder
    1. Oral motor challenges
    2. Sensory-based challenges
    3. Medical diagnoses
    4. Behavioral challenges
  3. Confident Assessment of Feeding Disorders
    1. Feeding History
    2. What to ask/What to observe/How to trouble shoot
    3. Breast feeding observation
    4. Differential diagnosis
    5. Goal-writing
    6. Multi-disciplinary collaboration
    7. When to make a referral
  4. Selecting the Most Effective Tools of the Trade
    1. Nipples, bottles, sippy cups, straws, open cups
    2. Utensils
    3. Oral stimulation/desensitization tools and techniques
    4. Problem solving specific challenges
  5. Seating and Positioning to Limit Gastrointestinal Issuesand AirwayRestrictions
    1. Breast feeding and bottle feeding
    2. Infant seats
    3. Highchairs
    4. Therapeutic/adapted seating
    5. Problem solving specific challenges
  6. Therapeutic Feeding Strategies and Techniques
    1. Expanding food and drink repertoire
    2. Picky eaters
    3. Hierarchy of textures and consistencies
    4. Supporting oral motor skill development
    5. Munching/chewing/tongue lateralization
    6. Addressing sensory concerns
    7. Food play, desensitization, environment
    8. Modification of food preferences
    9. Introduction of new foods
    10. Self-feeding
    11. Nutrition
    12. Behavior modification
    13. Multidisciplinary collaboration
  7. Interventions for Complicated Feeders
    1. Medically complex
    2. Considerations for cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal,cranio-facial disorders
    3. Food allergies and sensitivities
    4. Breast feeding
    5. Weaning nasogastric, gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes
    6. Aspiration
    7. Meeting nutrition needs
    8. Multi-disciplinary collaboration
  8. Family and Caregiver Support
    1. Establishing meal time routines
    2. Division of responsibility
    3. Coaching strategies for successful carryover
    4. Behavior challenges
Kathryn K. Basco, M.A. CCC-SLP is a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist with 29 years of experience. She has worked in a variety of medical and educational settings and has been in private practice since 2001. Kathryn is a credentialed evaluator and provider for the Illinois Early Intervention Program. She is experienced in evaluating and treating infants and children with oral- motor and sensory-based feeding disorders, medically complex diagnoses, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sensory integration disorder, traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, and receptive and expressive language delay. Since 2005, Kathryn has been an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst College. She supervises graduate students in the college clinic and teaches several core curriculum courses. Kathryn has presented to students, teachers, and other professionals on topics that include transitioning from the NICU to early intervention, family-based intervention, parent coaching in early intervention, and facilitating language in the natural environment. Kathryn received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in and her Master of Arts from Northern Illinois University. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is also a Certified Lactation Specialist.

DISCLOSURES

FINANCIAL: Kathryn Basco is compensated by Summit as an Instructor and is compensated as the owner of her private practice (Kathryn K. Basco). She is an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst College where she is compensated per student she supervises and per course she teaches. She is a part time clinical staff Speech Language Pathologist at UW Health for which she is compensated per diem.

NONFINANCIAL: Kathryn Basco has no nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Summit receives financial support for this course from Physitrack

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