Feeding Therapy Roadmap

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It's not uncommon for children diagnosed with ASD to have a limited amount of preferred foods. If you're frustrated at mealtimes or child's behaviors are escalating during this time, you may want to see someone to help you expand your child's food preferences. The first thing that needs to be done is to rule out medical issues that maybe contributing to your child's food avoidance. Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. Perhaps there's an allergy or gastrointestinal issue. You may need to take your child to a specialist for further testing. Pay attention to your child's stool and share with the medical team. Follow your doctor's instructions. Ruling out medical complications also gives you plenty of info to share with therapists and other caregivers.

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Let's say that all medical complications are ruled out or you received results of medical issues that make it difficult for your child to have a varied diet. Now what?  Where is the line between picky eating and a feeding disorder? The following link will help you narrow this down before moving forward to a feeding program.  Now, you can move forward to getting therapy services that will help you systematically vary your child's diet.

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As you wait for services and before you begin a feeding program, here are a few things you can do to set yourself up for success!!

• I cannot emphasize this enough..find one time of the day that the family can sit and eat together. Traditionally, it's dinnertime but pick the time that's least hectic for you. Setting the table is a cue to eat at a specific time. If you have a toddler, have your Wraparound Services help you with a goal of sitting at the table for an appropriate amount of time before trying this.

• Support your child's posture. Maybe your child is receiving PT therapy to strengthen core muscles. As your PT how you can best support your child sitting at the kitchen table.

• Try to be consistent with the times you have your children sit at the table to establish a routine.

• Make food neutral. Kids with ASD know their marketing logos of foods. Take the food out of their packages and put it in a container that is not labeled.

• Let them play with their food! In a relatively controlled environment, let them touch, smell, explore food on their own terms in their own time. Let them help you in the kitchen. Maybe they can wash the vegetables and fruit.

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Feeding Therapy Tips for Kids and Babies

https://www.arktherapeutic.com/blog/75-feeding-therapy-tips-strategies/

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How to Track Food Exposures and Expand Food Variety for Selective Eaters

July 13, 2017 By Melanie Potock MA  https://blog.asha.org/2017/07/13/how-to-track-food-exposures-and-expand-food-variety-for-selective-eaters/

                                      

If your child is responding very well to ABA Techniques, that link will go into detail how ABA can be used to expand preferred foods.

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Providers:

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Advent Pediatric Therapy Services

Where: 3376 Linden Street Bethlehem, PA 18017

Call: 610-392-4339

Email:office@adventtherapy.com

Website: http://www.adventtherapy.com/therapie/

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Cindy Miles

Our interdisciplinary team of board certified and state licensed Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists are trained and certified in comprehensive diagnostic assessment and treatment of your child’s feeding concerns. We offer the most current treatment approaches to determine the most appropriate techniques and strategies which focus on improvement and resolution of your child’s oral feeding and swallowing issues and concerns. We have a strong emphasis on parent involvement and training through each step of our program.

Where: 3721 Crescent Court West, Whitehall, PA 18052

Call: 610-820-7667

Email: staff@cindymiles.com

Website: http://cindymiles.com/physical-therapy/

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Good Shepherd Health & Technology Center (Nutrition Wellness Program/Pediatric Feeding Program)

The Fast Track Feeding Program is offered in the summer. Early intervention, outpatient and inpatient feeding therapy services are available for children from birth to 21 yrs old.
Where: 850 S. Fifth Street, Allentown, PA 18103

Good Shepherd Rehab

Where: 622 Gravel Pike, Suite 110, East Greenville, PA 18041

Where: 4036 Bethlehem Pike, Telford, PA 18969

Where: 4110 Independence Drive, Suite 200, Schnecksville, PA 18078

Where: 1651 North Cedar Crest Blvd., Suite 100, Allentown, PA 18104

Call: 610-776-3173

**Need a physician referral and most insurances cover nutritional counseling services. If not, a generous grant from the Trexler Trust may help cover the cost.

​Website: https://www.goodshepherdrehab.org/condition/feeding-therapy/

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Lehigh Valley Health Network-Pediatric Rehabilitation Services

Kim and Jane-ST

Where: 1770 Bathgate Road, 2nd Fl, Suite 202, Bethlehem, PA 18017

Call:  484-884-5437

Website: www.lvhn.org

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Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Feeding Program

Keith E. Williams, Ph.D.

Where: 905 W. Govenor Road Suite 350, Hershey, PA 17033

Call: 717. 531.7117

Email:feedingprogram@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Website:  http://childrens.pennstatehealth.org/feeding-program

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St. Luke's Medical Nutrition Therapy

Allentown Outpatient Nutrition Services
Where: 1736 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18103
Call: 610-628-8979
 

Bethlehem Outpatient Nutrition Services
Where: 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Call: 484-526-1000
 

Easton Outpatient Nutrition Services
Where: 1872 St. Luke’s Boulevard, Easton, PA 18045
Call: 484-526-1000

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Quakertown Outpatient Nutrition Services
Where: 1021 Park Avenue, Quakertown, PA 18951
Call: 215-538-4598
Website: https://www.stlukesphysicaltherapy.com/specialties/pediatric

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Zimzum Consulting Collaboration

Services: Toilet Training & Feeding Programs. We find effective interventions that help children with delayed or severely delayed functions.

Where: 191 Main St. Suite 105 Emmaus, PA 18049

Call: 610-973-5335

Website:   https://www.zimzumcc.com/aba

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