Speaker: April Anderson, MA, CCC-SLP, IBCLC

Course Description

Working with infants or children with a feeding disorder that requires the use of alternative nutrition methods such as a feeding tube requires understanding and teamwork. These children typically have a dedicated team of providers that all work together to reach the goal of oral eating. A successful feeding therapy plan requires the implementation of the three C’s: Collaboration, Consistency, and Confidence.

Collaboration requires an understanding of the role of the feeding therapist on the team. Having an open line of communication with other providers can give insight on where to start in the therapy process and well as offer insight on long term outcomes.

Consistency over perfection should be a focus during therapy. Each therapy session may not look the same. Following a plan that builds on skills and progress when implementing strategies allows the therapist to develop a roadmap for success.

Confidence of the caregiver when applying strategies may be the most important part of the process. Families are handling not only the medical care of the child, but also finding time to carry out the strategies from the therapist. Empowering caregivers with the confidence to practice between sessions assists the child in reaching their oral intake goals.

This course will educate participants on how to implement the three C’s into their therapy with tube fed children through research, practical strategies, and case studies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the feeding therapist’s role on the multidisciplinary team.
   
2. Apply communication strategies when collaborating with other providers.
   
3. Formulate strategies to target goals based on level of skill in feeding therapy sessions.
   
4. Describe activities to enhance the confidence of caregivers when implementing strategies between therapy sessions.

Timed Agenda

• 5 mins: Introduction and Disclosures 
• 15 mins: A multidisciplinary approach to tube weaning 
• 10 mins: Feeding therapy approaches 
• 20 mins: Collaboration- Information and case study 
• 10 mins: How children learn to eat 
• 30 mins: Consistency- strategies and case study
• 20 mins: Confidence- Activities for parents and case study
• 10 mins: Conclusion and Questions

Content Disclosure: This presentation will focus on treatment methods related to the use of TalkTools® resources. Other similar treatment approaches will receive limited or no coverage during this lecture.

 (pending AOTA approval)

See TalkTools ASHA CEU Policy and Process for more information)

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