This seminar deals with the challenge of improving eating behaviors of children who are non- oral feeders. Discussion includes children dependent on tube feeding, children who have poor oral-feeding skills due to oral sensitivity to touch, taste, texture and the smell of foods, children with developmental failure to thrive, those with specific syndromes that have particular swallowing and feeding disorders such as C.H.A.R.G.E. Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Nager-Miller Syndrome.
These problems require unique understanding of the oral-motor and feeding processes if improvement in eating behavior is to be obtained to assist these children in becoming supplemental feeders and eventually diminishing their dependence on tube feeding.
Topics include: The Importance of the Sensory Aspects of Feeding; Postural Aspects of Feeding; Normal Oral-Motor Development; The Influence of Respiration on Feeding and Speech; Musculature of the Face and Tongue: Facilitation Techniques for Improving Oral-Motor Control; Facilitation of Chewing; Drooling Management; Assessment and Treatment Guidelines; Adaptation of the Treatment Process to Various Syndromes; Treatment Examples.
Handouts included in PDF file format.
