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1. Articulate the complexities of feeding and the sensory, behavioral and motor factors that play a role in a child’s ability to eat.
2. Explore the neurological basis for how and why many feeding aversions develop and continue.
3. Connect the misconceptions about feeding and the implications on a child’s feeding experience.
4. Differentiate between sensory overload and behaviors to effectively apply treatment strategies.
5. Describe which muscles are needed for chewing and swallowing to better identify when dysfunction in the muscle is occurring.
6. Implement play approaches to increase types of foods.
7. Use various behaviors and sensory techniques to increase regulation at the table.
8. Implement oral motor exercises and strategies to promote feeding patterns such as rotary chewing pattern, lip closure, and tongue lateralization.
9. Explore the progression of food texture and choice foods that match the sensory and motor skills.
10. Demonstrate the use of behavior strategies effectively to increase compliance during therapy.
11. Explore unique challenges with various diagnoses such as autism, cerebral palsy and more to modify treatment accordingly.
12. Support and guide the parents, caregivers, and other family members through often emotional or stressful mealtimes.

The Complexities of Feeding

• Definition and prevalence – new information; move toward Pediatric Feeding Disorder
• Overlap of sensory processing skills, oral motor skills and behaviors
• Normal developmental key points
• Neurological foundations
• Trauma, feeding and impact on brain
  • NICU and medical trauma, NG Tubes, trachotmesty, etc.
  • Negative experience around feeding gagging, retching, pain with eating …

Evaluation of Feeding Skills

• Differentiate between sensory overload and behaviors during feeding
• Activity analysis of feeding – Evaluation videos and group analysis
• Information obtained – what questions to ask
• Oral motor evaluation – jaw, lips, tongue strength; range of motion for feeding
• Hands-on draw to learn lab

Sensory Integration Strategies

• Research-backed sensory play-based approach
  • Decrease sensory over-responsivity to foods
  • Use food exploration/cooking for older kids
• Self-regulation to engage body during feeding
  • Core engagement
  • Breathing exercises
  • Therapeutic use of music
  • Heavy work

Oral Motor Skills

• Lab – Oral motor exercises, kineseotaping, stretching
• Children who don’t swallow safely – saliva management, increase swallowing …

Food in Therapy
Taste Lab – Sensory feedback and motor requirement needed for each food texture

• Progression of food texture
• Match food presented in therapy to child’s sensory needs and motor skills
• Nutritional considerations

Behaviors During Mealtimes: Environmental Strategies to Set Children Up for Success

• Manage common mealtime behaviors – throwing foods, not sitting, crying during mealtimes
• Increase cooperation using the “just right challenge”
• Shift between treatment frameworks
• How to use the “feeding roadmap”

Special Considerations

• Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Children who don’t eat by mouth/G-Tube
• Medically complex children

Promote Carry-Over At Home

• Educate parents who are stressed and in survival mode
• Help families have realistic expectations
• Easy-to-implement home programs that parents will do
• Help parents to change the relationship between child and food

Jessica Hunt, OTR/L, is well-known for her experience in treating pediatric sensory processing disorders in both the home and clinical settings. She serves children by bringing her feeding expertise directly into the home setting through her company, J.L. Hunt Therapeutics. Previously Mrs. Hunt worked for 10 years at Kaufman Children’s Center as the director of occupational therapy and sensory integrations programs and then as the director of feeding and oral motor programs. She is certified in sensory integration, receiving her Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification in 2008 and she has studied with Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR, who is nationally recognized for sensory research, education, and treatment. Ms. Hunt received her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University in 2003. She gained expertise in “picky eating”, oral-motor therapy through trainings that include, the Beckman Protocol, and Talk Tools, behavior issues with feeding, feeding strategies for children who have autism, and treating medically challenging children. She is also trained in craniofacial therapy, advanced training in Therapeutic Listening, Integrated Listening System, and Handwriting without Tears.

Mrs. Hunt is also the notable recipient of the 2011 Michigan Occupational Therapy Association Award of Excellence.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Jessica Hunt maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Jessica Hunt has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

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CE Information Coming Soon
Continuing education credit information is coming soon for this non-interactive self-study package.

CEs may be available for select professions, as listed in the target audience. Hours will be dependent on the actual recording time. Please check with your state licensing board or organization for specific requirements.

There may be an additional fee for CE certificates. Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapist Assistants
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Physical Therapists
• Nurses
• Special Educators
• Other Behavioral Health Professionals