The Feeding Solutions – Part 1 – EVALUATE
As I began writing all the many strategies I have used to address feeding issues with the children I have worked with, I knew that it would be impossible to squeeze it all into one blog post. Therefore, I've decided to break the topic of feeding down into various components that will be discussed over the next several weeks. I am hoping that this will also allow time for readers to send in questions and solutions making this an ongoing discussion that will grow over time.
Since "The Feeding Challenge" post was published, several important ideas were shared by our readers. One extremely important point that was brought up was EVALUATING the situation and determining the CAUSE of the feeding disorder. This is absolutely crucial. How can you effectively treat any type of disorder, delay, etc. if the cause is unknown? It is much easier to plan the course of therapy when you understand the nature of what is causing the problem.
Another important technique that I always use to evaluate both speech disorders and feeding is OBSERVATION. I spend at least one entire session interviewing the family and observing the child in the home and daycare if they are attending one. I always want to see if both the speech and feeding behaviors and skills are uniform across all environments. Of course, informal observations are ongoing; however using a session to interview the family and watch the child eat (or watch mom feed the child) is vital to understanding the crux of what may be happening. (i.e. if the child eats a variety of foods at daycare but not at home, this lets me know there may be a big behavioral component that is taking over the family dynamics).
For those of you who are struggling to find additional ways to EVALUATE and OBSERVE your "feeding kids", here are some very specific ideas that I have used and may help you think "outside the box":
- Ask a feeding specialist and/or a nutritionist to consult with you. See if there is one that works in your county. Ask them to evaluate the child and see if they can be added to the case even if only on a consultative level. If they cannot be added to the case, ask if they can give you suggestions to incorporate into your sessions.
- Videotape the child eating. Tape both your sessions and sessions of the parent(s) feeding the child. Observing the situation can be very insightful for both you and the family.
- Go to hospital visits and swallow studies with the family. This will help you gain insight about the nature of the disorder and give you the opportunity to consult with the hospital SLPs.
- Co-treat with other therapists! If the child is being seen privately for feeding, swallowing, etc, go to a session! Contact the therapist! Reinforcing the therapy can make all the difference with the child's success.
Upcoming posts will include additional Feeding Solutions as well as fun Fall and Halloween therapy tips to spice up your sessions!