Question: I recently received a comment with a question about how best to develop the skills to provide pediatric feeding and swallowing intervention (as a working professional, with limited ability to travel). Many therapists (myself included) graduated before classes were introduced into the grad school curriculum. The reader asked for suggestions for online courses or programs or books Keep Reading >>
Cyproheptadine (or periactin) to Boost Appetite
Question: I was searching your site for more information about the use of cyproheptadine as an appetite stimulant. I recently had an evaluation with a kiddo who is taking this twice a day to increase appetite but mom doesn't think it has helped much. Wondering what your team does for dosage? I have had some experience working with periactin and I remember that it was usually best to be on it Keep Reading >>
The Pediatric Feeding & Dysphagia Newsletter
As most of you know, one of my goals as a feeding and dysphagia specialist (speech pathologist by training) is to further our field by providing current information about the complex nature of these problems, from all disciplines and philosophies. While personally, I use a medical, motor, behavioral approach in intervention, I have always hoped to represent a variety of intervention strategies Keep Reading >>
Feeding Therapy: What to Do When You are Stuck
I get emails all the time asking for advice on how to get kids to eat. Many of these children are in therapy but are having difficulty progressing toward the acceptance of food and liquid. I have said this before but will say it again, these kids are hard, feeding intervention can be challenging and what works for one child may not work for another. As a feeding therapist, I am a believer in Keep Reading >>
Ideas for Transitioning off of a G-tube
When a child is referred for feeding therapy to transition off of a feeding tube, what is the best intervention strategy? The best answer is the one that works in the most efficient way possible! In all honesty, there is no standard approach to transitioning off of a feeding tube. There are many different approaches that range from: reducing tube feeding volumes to encourage Keep Reading >>
Bottle or Breast Feeding Dependence and Transitioning to a Cup
Cup Transition For most children, the recommendation to transition from the bottle to cup is typically around 1 year. Prolonged bottle use can cause: tooth decay or bite malformation may encourage your child to drink much more milk than he needs may find it hard to Keep Reading >>
Solid food dysphagia in pediatrics- what does it mean?
Some children will be referred for a feeding and swallowing evaluation because of solid food dysphagia or difficulty swallowing solids. Caregivers might describe coughing, choking or gagging on solid food during mealtime. What does this mean and how should it be evaluated? Solid food dysphagia can be related to several different etiologies. GI Issues: In adult patients, solid food Keep Reading >>