Feeding Therapy -> Nutrition

Nutrition

Nutrition therapy addresses barriers to achieving appropriate nutrition for growth. An occupational or speech therapist will work with the the patient and caregivers to address the barriers to proper nutrition whether they are based on sensory or swallowing issues.

Skilled interventions

  • Feeding Techniques - Chaining

    Food chaining is a systematic, individualized, low-pressure feeding intervention designed to support individuals in expanding their food repertoire by emphasizing similar features between accepted and targeted food items (Fishbein et al., 2006). Food chaining begins with a food audit, creating a list of accepted foods. Then, these foods are categorized by food group to determine the dietary diversity of the individual’s food repertoire. The food list is broken down again into flavor and texture categories in a process called “flavor mapping,” where specific patterns of preference are identified. Strategies involved in food chaining include flavor masking (using preferred sauces/dips or spices to increase acceptance of new foods by allowing the individual to experience a familiar taste paired with a new food item), shape chaining, texture chaining, flavor chaining, or color chaining (Fraker & Cox, 2007).

Reference links

  • Child Dietitians to Assess & Treat PFD - Feeding Matters 0
    www.feedingmatters.org
    Author: Feeding Matters - Children with pediatric feeding disorder require child dietitians to assess and treat PFD. Feeding Matters, an organization dedicated to improving the system of care of children with pediatric feeding disorder, provides a helpful provider directory for dietitians and food therapists.
  • A Little PEP Goes a Long Way In the Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders 2
    pubs.asha.org
    Author: Teresa Boggs and Neina Ferguson - Feeding disorder in young children is a growing concern, particularly feeding challenges with sensory and/or behavioral underpinning. These feeding disorders are characterized by food refusal, anxiety when presented with novel foods, failure to advance to textured foods, and inappropriate mealtime behaviors. The Positive Eating Program (PEP) was developed to remediate feeding disorders by providing rich experiences in food vocabulary, positive sensory nonfood and food activities, and structured and predictable through trials
  • Self-Determination Theory As a Theoretical Framework For a Responsive Approach to Child Feeding 0
    www.sciencedirect.com
    Author: Johanna Cormack, Katja Rowell, Gianina-Ioana Postavaru - Cormack et al. propose using self-determination theory (SDT) to support the advancement of feeding skills. SDT says that people want to improve their skills, but their ability to improve depends on their social environment. SDT in feeding focuses on cultivating: Autonomy: The ability to control your actions–so, letting kids regulate their own energy intake Competence: Feeling effective–so, choosing foods and feeding methods that provide a ‘just right’ challenge given the child’s developmental level), and Relatedness: A feeling of belonging that allows you to feel connected with others–so, focusing on social connectedness and engagement during mealtimes. On the other hand, SDT suggests that restrictions or pressure to eat will interrupt self-regulation, and might even contribute to adverse outcomes (e.g., food refusals, atypical weight gain, or eating disorders). https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/disbanding-the-clean-plate-club
  • Milestone Moments 1
    www.cdc.gov
    Author: Centers For Disease Control and Prevention - These developmental milestones show what most children (75% or more) can do by each age. Subject matter experts selected these milestones based on available data and expert consensus.

Activity List(s)

Related Disorder(s)

  • Feeding disorders - A feeding disorder, in infancy or early childhood, is a child's refusal to eat certain food groups, textures, solids or liquids for a period of at least one month, which causes the child to not gain enough weight, grow naturally or cause any developmental delays.
  • Eating disorders - Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological and social function. Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorder, pica and rumination disorder.

Goal Bank

  • Jane will increase food inventory by 2 foods to improve nutrition over a 6 week therapy period. 1
  • Jane will make gains on the food hierarchy to increase food-inventory over a 3 -month period. 1
  • Marley will increase food awareness of food types through participating in food related activities across a 3 month period. 2
  • Bryson will participate in structured food tries to increase novel food acceptance to include a variety of textures and consistencies when presented in new locations across a 3 month period. 1
  • Laura will tolerate the least restrictive diet without signs/ symptoms of aspiration, dehydration, or malnutrition typical for developmental peers in 3 of 4 attempts as measured by clinician observation and data collection over 5 therapy sessions to improve overall feeding and nutrition skills. 2
  • Bryan will increase food acceptance to include a variety of textures and consistencies through participation in food tries across a 3 month period. 2
  • Within a 12 month period, Scott will consume 5 or more IDDSI level 7 (regular ) foods from each food group with moderate cueing in order to maintain adequate nutrition as measured through observation during mealtime food trials. 0

Organizations

Organizations who selected this major focus area as their top area of expertise.

  • Radiant Moments Pediatric Therapy, PLLC

    Radiant Moments Pediatric Therapy, PLLC

    Private Practice
    2 - 5 employees

    Welcome to Radiant Moments Pediatric Therapy! We are a private practice dedicated to providing the highest level of speech and feeding therapy to families in Durham, North Carolina. We make it easy for families to get the services they need by traveling to you, whether that’s in your home or at your child’s school. This offers convenience for those with busy schedules, but also allows us to support your child in the environment most comfortable to them. At Radiant Moments, we support children in pronouncing sounds, using more words, creating sentences, finding alternative ways to communicate, bottle feeding, transitioning to solids, and enjoying a variety of foods. Our goal is to bring compassion, energy, and positivity to every interaction and help guide you and your child at every step along the way.