Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues

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Jessica Hunt, OTR/L Related seminars and products

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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 Jessica worked for 10 years at Kaufman Children’s Center as the director of occupational therapy and sensory integration 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 studied with Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR, who is nationally recognized for sensory research, education, and treatment.

Jessica 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, behaviors 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 System, and Handwriting without Tears. Jessica is also the notable recipient of the 2011 Michigan Occupational Therapy Association Award of Excellence.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jessica Hunt has an employment relationship with MetroEHS. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jessica Hunt has no relevant non-financial relationships.

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Program Information

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Objectives

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. Evaluate the neurological basis for how and why many feeding aversions develop and continue.
3. Measure 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. Determine 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. Assess 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. Investigate 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.

Outline

• 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 …

• 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

• 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

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

• 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”

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

• 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

Target Audience

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

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