Beneath the Surface: Uncovering the Complexities of Feeding and Swallowing through a Multidisciplinary Lens

Credit

Handouts/Brochure

Speaker

Amanda Foster, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC Related seminars and products

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Amanda Foster, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Massachusetts General Hospital IHP. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with children with various diagnoses across school, clinic, hospital, and early intervention settings. Her feeding career began in 2005 at Toomey & Associates, Inc., later transitioning to SOS Feeding Solutions @ STAR with Dr. Kay Toomey and Dr. Lucy Jane Miller.

In 2010, Mrs. Foster launched a private practice focused on providing feeding support for families in their homes and community environments. Currently, she works as a consultant to local and statewide feeding therapists and clinics, providing guidance on pediatric feeding, caseload management, clinic development and training. In addition to consulting, she presents at college-level courses, parent and professional seminars, in addition to presenting with the SOS Approach to Feeding.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Amanda Foster has an employment relationship with Toomey & Associates. She receives a speaking honorarium and consulting fee from SOS Approach to Feeding. Amanda Foster receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Amanda Foster has no relevant non-financial relationships.

 

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Objectives

1. Conceptualize Feeding Issues Using the Iceberg Analogy: Recognize that visible feeding challenges are just the tip of the iceberg, with underlying physical, sensory, developmental, and emotional factors impacting eating behavior and name the 7 areas of Human Functioning.
2. Identify the Multidisciplinary Nature of Treatment: Emphasize the need for collaboration across healthcare professionals, including speech therapists, psychologists, and nutritionists, for comprehensive assessment and treatment and list 2 ways a multi-disciplinary approach benefit the clients.
3. Identify and Develop Critical Oral Motor and Sensory Skills for Feeding:
   • List essential oral motor skills and explain their role in successful feeding
   • Recognize the importance of sensory processing in chewing and swallowing a variety of food textures.

Outline

• Introduction to the complexity of feeding and swallowing
• Overview of session goals and participant objectives

• The Seven Areas of Human Functioning:
  • Organ Systems
  • Muscles
  • Senses
  • Learning
  • Development
  • Nutritional Status
  • Environment

• Case examples demonstrating how disruptions in one area can cascade into feeding disorders

• Professional Involved in Feeding and Swallowing Care:
  • SLPs, OTs, dietitians, psychologists, pediatricians, etc.
• Benefits of Collaboration:
  • Improved identification of underlying challenges
  • Coordinated interventions leading to better patient outcomes

• Motor and Sensory Integration: Going beyond the swallow to address breathing, posture, oral motor, and sensory processing
• Body-Based Activities for Clinicians:
  • Breathing and Feeding
  • Posture and Feeding/Swallowing
  • Oral Motor Skills in Feeding – brief overview and activity
  • Sensory and Feeding – brief overview and activity

• A Whole Person Perspective on Feeding and Swallowing Care:
  • Considerations in integrating input from all professionals and settings (home, clinic, school) for a more whole person approach

• Review key concepts and takeaways
• Closing thoughts on the importance of collaboration in feeding and swallowing care

Target Audience

• Speech Language Pathologists 
• Speech Language Assistants  
• Physical Therapists 
• Physical Therapist Assistants 
• Occupational Therapists 
• Occupational Therapy Assistants 
• Respiratory Therapists