Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues
2-Day Intensive Training
- Speaker:
- Jessica Hunt, OTR/L
- Duration:
- 12 Hours 35 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Mar 30, 2023
- Product Code:
- POS063800
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar - Also available: DVD
Description
Children do not present with one area of difficulty when it comes to feeding – it is typically a mix of behavior, sensory and oral-motor issues. As a result, we need to learn how to adjust on the fly when a child throws us a curveball in a session that doesn’t fit with our treatment plan.
In this 2-day seminar, I will show you how to use a roadmap to navigate the muddy waters of feeding and learn how to seamlessly move between sensory, motor and behavior strategies to create the best-individualized treatment plan for each child.
Through video case examples, I will show you treatment strategies, and hands-on exercises to gain the knowledge needed to successfully treat feeding difficulties.
You’ll walk away with advanced techniques to:
- Evaluate the causes of mealtime difficulties: behavior, sensory, oral motor, or a combination
- Increase the range of foods, decrease rigidity around mealtimes
- Increase jaw strength and decrease ineffective lip closure, or poor tongue lateralization
- Use deep breathing and proprioceptive input to address self-regulation at the table
- Educate parents and caregivers to promote carryover at home
- Increase self-regulation around feeding
- Increase food play and exploration to increase food acceptance
Don’t miss out! Come watch me to learn how to put all the pieces together for children with complex feeding issues.
Credit
Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships
All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after passing the online post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). Instructional methods will include PowerPoint, didactic lecture, and others.
Continuing Education Information: Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Program content is reviewed periodically per accrediting board rules for currency and appropriateness for credit. Credit approvals are subject to change. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education, as well as which credit types are acceptable for continuing education hours. Please refer to your state rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval.
For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact info@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before purchase.
Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.
For Planning Committee disclosures, please see the statement above. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
Earn up to 12.5 CE hours. Please see below, for more details, as credit amounts vary by state and profession.
This self-study activity consists of 12.5 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.
PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #: 17118 for 12.5 self-study contact hours.
** You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.
PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 12.5 self-study contact hours.

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy. Provider Number #50-399. This course qualifies for 12.5 self-study continuing education credits.

CE credit is available. This self-study course consists of 12.5 continuing education clock hours for Arizona OTs and OTAs. The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (R4-43-203) confirms acceptance of continuing education programs relevant to occupational therapy that are approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
This course consists of 12.5 self-study clock hours. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

12.5 ISBE Professional Development (PD) Clock Hours have been made available through Quincy University. Those requesting ISBE PD Clock Hours will need to complete additional steps in order to receive the ISBE “Evidence of Completion for Professional Development” form.
While completing the post-test/evaluation be sure to answer the question “Are you an Illinois Educator” Yes. PESI will then be prompted to send you the “Evaluation for Workshop, Conference, Seminar, Etc.” form. You will need to complete the ISBE evaluation form, and return it plus the applicable ISBE enrollment fee(s) (made payable to PESI, Inc.), and your name within two weeks from receiving your CE certificate. You will then be emailed the “ISBE Evidence of Completion for Professional Development” form.
This self-study package is offered for 12.0 Renewal Units. PESI, Inc. is an Approved Renewal Unit Provider with the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
PESI, Inc. is an approved sponsor of CTLE with the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) Office of Teaching Initiatives. Provider #23567. This self-study activity will qualify for 12.5 Approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Hour(s), in the area of Pedagogy. Hours are based on full attendance. Board required certificates will be sent after the program.
PESI, Inc., has been approved as a CPE Provider #500-981 for Texas Educators by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBED). This self-study package qualifies for 12.5 CPE clock hours.

Intermediate Level
1.25 ASHA CEUs
** ASHA Self Study CEUs are available on this course from 04/01/2025 to 03/31/2027. PESI, Inc. will submit ASHA CEU Requests to the ASHA CE Registry on a monthly basis; ASHA CEU Requests received before 04/01/2025 or after 03/31/2027 cannot be reported.
** Please note: To have participation reported to the ASHA CE Registry, Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists must complete all requirements: pass the CE quiz with a score 80% or more, complete the evaluation, answer "YES" to the evaluation question about reporting to ASHA, and enter a valid ASHA ID number when prompted. Participation will be submitted within 45 days of completing all requirements and cannot be reported if any requirement is not met. ASHA CE Provider Approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.
PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board, #PDP 319. This course meets the qualifications for 12.5 hours of self-study continuing professional development credit for Speech-Language Pathologists or Audiologists, as required by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board.
PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Provider Number: 50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 12.5 continuing education credits.
Approved for 15.0 self-study continuing education clock hours for Kansas licensed Speech-Language Pathologists by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.
This self-study activity qualifies for 12.5 continuing education clock hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.
Handouts/Brochure
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues (6 MB) | 155 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Illinois Educators Self-Study Instructions (15.4 KB) | 1 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Illinois Educators Evaluation Form.pdf (1.2 MB) | 1 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues - French (6 MB) | 155 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues - Italian (6 MB) | 155 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Instructions for ASHA credit - Self-Study Only (64.4 KB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Manual - Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues - German (6 MB) | 155 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Pediatric Complex Feeding Issues - Spanish (6 MB) | 155 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
Jessica Hunt, OTR/L Related seminars and products
Jessica Hunt, OTR/L, is well-known for her experience in treating pediatric sensory processing disorders in both the home and clinical settings. She serves children by bringing her feeding expertise directly into the home setting through her company J.L. Hunt Therapeutics. Previously Jessica worked for 10 years at Kaufman Children’s Center as the director of occupational therapy and sensory integration programs, and then as the director of feeding and oral motor programs. She is certified in sensory integration, receiving her Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) certification in 2008, and studied with Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR, who is nationally recognized for sensory research, education, and treatment.
Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University in 2003. She gained expertise in “picky eating,” oral-motor therapy through trainings that include, the Beckman Protocol, and Talk Tools, behaviors issues with feeding, feeding strategies for children who have autism, and treating medically challenging children. She is also trained in craniofacial therapy, advanced training in Therapeutic Listening System, and Handwriting without Tears. Jessica is also the notable recipient of the 2011 Michigan Occupational Therapy Association Award of Excellence.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jessica Hunt has an employment relationship with MetroEHS. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jessica Hunt has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
Questions?
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Objectives
- Articulate the complexities of feeding and the sensory, behavioral and motor factors that play a role in a child’s ability to eat.
- Evaluate the neurological basis for how and why many feeding aversions develop and continue.
- Measure the misconceptions about feeding and the implications on a child’s feeding experience.
- Differentiate between sensory overload and behaviors to effectively apply treatment strategies.
- Determine which muscles are needed for chewing and swallowing to better identify when dysfunction in the muscle is occurring.
- Implement play approaches to increase types of foods.
- Use various behaviors and sensory techniques to increase regulation at the table.
- Implement oral motor exercises and strategies to promote feeding patterns such as rotary chewing pattern, lip closure, and tongue lateralization.
- Assess the progression of food texture and choice foods that match the sensory and motor skills.
- Demonstrate the use of behavior strategies effectively to increase compliance during therapy.
- Investigate unique challenges with various diagnoses such as autism, cerebral palsy and more to modify treatment accordingly.
- Support and guide the parents, caregivers, and other family members through often emotional or stressful mealtimes.
Outline
The Complexities of Feeding- Definition and prevalence – new information; move toward Pediatric Feeding Disorder
- Overlap of sensory processing skills, oral motor skills and behaviors
- Normal developmental key points
- Neurological foundations
- Trauma, feeding and impact on brain
- NICU and medical trauma, NG Tubes, trachotmesty, etc.
- Negative experience around feeding gagging, retching, pain with eating …
- Differentiate between sensory overload and behaviors during feeding
- Activity analysis of feeding – Evaluation videos and group analysis
- Information obtained – what questions to ask
- Oral motor evaluation – jaw, lips, tongue strength; range of motion for feeding
- Hands-on draw to learn lab
- Research-backed sensory play-based approach
- Decrease sensory over-responsivity to foods
- Use food exploration/cooking for older kids
- Self-regulation to engage body during feeding
- Core engagement
- Breathing exercises
- Therapeutic use of music
- Heavy work
- Lab – Oral motor exercises, kineseotaping, stretching
- Children who don’t swallow safely – saliva management, increase swallowing …
Taste Lab – Sensory feedback and motor requirement needed for each food texture
- Progression of food texture
- Match food presented in therapy to child’s sensory needs and motor skills
- Nutritional considerations
Behaviors During Mealtimes
Environmental Strategies to Set Children Up for Success
- Manage common mealtime behaviors – throwing foods, not sitting, crying during mealtimes
- Increase cooperation using the “just right challenge”
- Shift between treatment frameworks
- How to use the “feeding roadmap”
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Children who don’t eat by mouth/G-Tube
- Medically complex children
- Educate parents who are stressed and in survival mode
- Help families have realistic expectations
- Easy-to-implement home programs that parents will do
- Help parents to change the relationship between child and food
Target Audience
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapist Assistants
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Nurses
- Special Educators
- Other Behavioral Health Professionals
Reviews
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Overall: 5
Total Reviews: 7
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