Feeding Therapy Course

Lesson 1 • Typical Feeding Development Milestones

Maps feeding skill acquisition from birth through early childhood. Enables clinicians to distinguish typical variation from clinical concern.

Lesson 2 • Sensory Foundations of Eating

Explains how taste, smell, touch, and proprioception shape feeding behavior. Links sensory processing to observable mealtime responses.

Lesson 3 • Nutritional Basics for Feeding Therapists

Introduces macronutrients, micronutrients, and growth monitoring relevant to feeding therapy. Supports interdisciplinary communication with dietitians.

Lesson 4 • Psychosocial Context of Mealtimes

Examines family dynamics, cultural food practices, and caregiver stress as feeding influences. Grounds clinical work in a family-centered perspective.

Lesson 1 • Allergies and Food Hypersensitivity

Distinguishes IgE-mediated allergy from food intolerance and their behavioral feeding presentations. Guides safe food trial planning.

Lesson 2 • Gastrointestinal Conditions and Feeding

Reviews GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis, and motility disorders as feeding disruptors. Connects GI pathology to avoidance behaviors and pain-related refusal.

Lesson 3 • Respiratory and Cardiac Influences

Explains how compromised respiratory reserve and cardiac conditions reduce feeding endurance and coordination.

Lesson 4 • Neurological and Developmental Diagnoses

Covers cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and Down syndrome as they affect oral-motor and sensory feeding skills.

Lesson 1 • Clinical Oral-Motor Examination

Guides hands-on assessment of lip, tongue, jaw, and palate function during feeding. Links structural and functional findings to treatment planning.

Lesson 2 • Mealtime Observation and Analysis

Trains systematic observation of live or recorded mealtimes for behavior, pacing, and positioning. Connects environmental factors to feeding performance.

Lesson 3 • Instrumental Swallowing Studies

Introduces videofluoroscopic swallow study and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation as diagnostic tools. Clarifies the therapist's role within the instrumental assessment team.

Lesson 4 • Clinical Feeding History Intake

Structures the caregiver interview to capture feeding history, medical background, and mealtime routines. Forms the foundation for hypothesis-driven assessment.

Lesson 1 • Signs and Symptoms of Aspiration

Identifies clinical indicators of silent and overt aspiration during and after feeding. Trains clinicians to act on behavioral and physiological warning signs.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Response During Feeding

Prepares clinicians to respond to choking, aspiration events, and respiratory distress during sessions. Establishes clear protocols for escalation and documentation.

Lesson 3 • Swallowing Physiology and Phases

Details the oral preparatory, oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases of swallowing. Provides the physiological basis for recognizing phase-specific dysfunction.

Lesson 4 • Positioning for Safe Swallowing

Demonstrates how body and head positioning alter swallowing biomechanics and airway protection. Integrates positioning into individualized safety plans.

Lesson 1 • Selecting Evidence-Based Interventions

Evaluates intervention options against current evidence and individual child factors. Teaches critical appraisal of feeding therapy research for clinical decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Interpreting Assessment for Treatment

Synthesizes assessment data into a clinical profile that drives treatment prioritization. Connects assessment findings directly to goal domains and intervention selection.

Lesson 3 • Progress Monitoring and Plan Revision

Establishes data-driven systems for tracking goal progress and modifying treatment plans. Teaches decision rules for advancing, maintaining, or changing intervention targets.

Lesson 4 • Structuring the Treatment Session

Designs session structure, pacing, and activity sequence to maximize therapeutic outcomes. Addresses session length, trial density, and transition management.

Lesson 1 • Systematic Desensitization and Food Exposure

Structures graded exposure hierarchies to reduce food-related anxiety and avoidance. Teaches pacing exposure to prevent sensitization and promote generalization.

Lesson 2 • Reinforcement Systems for Mealtime

Designs individualized reinforcement schedules to increase food acceptance and mealtime participation. Addresses reinforcer selection, delivery timing, and fading.

Lesson 3 • Escape Extinction and Ethical Considerations

Examines escape extinction as a feeding intervention and its ethical boundaries. Requires clinicians to weigh efficacy against child distress and caregiver values.

Lesson 4 • Functional Behavior Assessment for Feeding

Applies ABC analysis to identify antecedents and consequences maintaining food refusal. Guides hypothesis formation for individualized intervention design.

Lesson 1 • Sensory Play and Food Exploration

Incorporates non-eating food interaction to reduce sensory defensiveness and build tolerance. Structures play-based food exposure within therapy sessions.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Sensory Modifications

Adjusts mealtime environment to reduce sensory overload and support regulated eating. Guides families in replicating sensory-supportive conditions at home.

Lesson 3 • Food Chaining and Texture Expansion

Uses food chaining to systematically bridge preferred foods to novel targets. Teaches texture and flavor modification as stepping stones to expansion.

Lesson 4 • Oral Sensory Preparation Techniques

Applies pre-meal oral sensory activities to regulate arousal and improve oral readiness. Teaches selection and sequencing of preparatory techniques.

Lesson 1 • Generalization Across Settings and People

Designs strategies to transfer feeding gains from clinic to home, school, and community. Addresses variability across caregivers, environments, and food contexts.

Lesson 2 • Managing Complex and Comorbid Cases

Addresses feeding presentations involving multiple overlapping medical, behavioral, and sensory factors. Develops clinical reasoning for prioritizing and sequencing intervention in complex cases.

Lesson 3 • Discharge Planning and Long-Term Outcomes

Establishes criteria for discharge readiness and plans for sustained feeding success post-therapy. Prepares families with maintenance strategies and relapse prevention tools.

Lesson 4 • Feeding Therapy for Adolescents

Adapts feeding therapy approaches for older children and adolescents with persistent feeding difficulties. Addresses autonomy, peer influence, and motivation in older clients.