I would like to commend the authors and Feeding Matters for their recent published article. This is very interesting and important for the field of pediatric feeding as it stresses the complex nature of feeding problems and need for multidisciplinary intervention. I’ve summarized some of the points below but I encourage you to take a look at the original article.
Pediatric Feeding Disorder
Pediatric Feeding Disorder
Consensus Definition and Conceptual Framework
Goday, Praveen S.; Huh, Susanna Y., Silverman, Alan; Lukens, Colleen T.; Dodrill, Pamela; Cohen, Sherri S.; Delaney, Amy L.; Feuling, Mary B.; Noel, Richard J.; Gisel, Erika; Kenzer, Amy; Kessler, Daniel B.; Kraus de Camargo, Olaf; Browne, Joy; Phalen, James A.
Highlights from the article:
A unifying diagnostic term, “Pediatric Feeding Disorder” (PFD) is proposed. This term unifies the medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial concerns associated with feeding disorders.
PFD is defined as impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate, and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction.
These proposed diagnostic criteria for PFD use a conceptual framework that goes beyond disease-oriented or unilateral diagnostic paradigms, defining PFD as restricted oral intake that is not age appropriate and leads to dysfunction in at least one of 4 closely related, complementary domains. Four important domains underlie PFD: medical, nutritional, feeding skills, and psychosocial. Because of interplay between these domains, impairment in one can lead to dysfunction in any of the others. The result is PFD.
Adoption of this definition by healthcare professionals from all disciplines will establish a common terminology that could have widespread impact on clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy.
These criteria aim to create a platform for change to ensure infants and children with PFD receive the best care possible and that the families receive the broadest community support available. This framework supports advocacy by family and professional organizations, and promotion of increased training opportunities, to ensure that children with PFD have access to all specialists needed for optimal management.
Although not all children have impairment in all 4 domains, initial evaluation of each domain is strongly recommended because the same presenting symptoms and signs can yield distinct, complementary domain-specific recommendations needed for successful treatment to promote optimal function.
Optimal care of children with PFD requires a team approach but many patients are unable to access evaluations in all 4 domains, due to lack of insurance coverage or lack of available specialists in their geographic location.
Kristen F Cole says
January 13, 2019 at 10:43 pmYes! Thank you for posting and sharing! So wonderful!