Transcript SOS Approach to Feeding - Southern Maine Autism Conference

Feeding the Picky Eater
Strategies for All Families
Presented by Jillian O’Brien, MS OTR/L
Michelle Segovias, MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Development Center
125 Presumpscot Street
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 699-5531
www.pediatricdevelopmentcenter.com
[email protected]
Feeding
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Eating is the most difficult sensory task
that children can do!
20% of typically
developing children vs.
60-70% of kids with
ASD
“One of the common myths about eating is that it
is easy and instinctive. Eating is actually the
most complex physical task humans engage in.
It is the only physical task that utilizes all the
body’s organ systems: the brain and cranial
nerves; the heart and vascular system; the
respiratory, endocrine, and metabolic systems; all
the muscles of the body; and the entire GI tract.
Swallowing alone requires the coordination of 26
muscles and six cranial nerves” –Kay Toomey
Myths about Mealtime
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Eating is the body’s #1 priority
Eating is instinctive
Eating is EASY
Eating is a two-step process
It is not okay to PLAY with your food
If a child is hungry they will eat
Children need only 3 meals
Either organic or behavioral problem
Certain foods are eaten at specific times a
day
Mealtimes are proper social occasion
Sensory - Changes with every Chew
Sight
 Sound – consistency is different
 Touch – texture is different
 Taste – molecules are broken
 Smell – molecules are broken
 Balance – head shifts every chew
 Proprioception – pressure is different
 Interoception – sensation of movement in
esophagus changes, streth on stomach
and appetite.
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Bag of Treats
Saltine
 Cheerios
 Baby Puffs
 Twizzlers
 Cheeto
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Meltable Solids vs. Hard Mechanicals
Dissolves
Shatters
Towne Crackers
Cheerios
Graham Crackers
Pretzel Sticks
Thawing pancakes
Saltine Crackers
Snap Pea Crisps
Hard Cookies
Cheetos
Fritos
Hard Munchables: Stick Shaped
1. Move the child’s gag reflex back
2. Allow practice with lateral
movements
3. Jaw strengthening
4. Kinesthetic awareness in the
mouth, make cognitive map of
mouth boundaries.
5. Change very little in the
mouth, to help prepare for
foods that do change
Strategies and Suggestions for
Working with a Picky Eater
Sequential Oral Sensory Protocol by Kay Toomey, PhD
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Tolerates
Interacts with
Smells
Touch
Tastes
Eats
It’s hard to be neat
when you’re learning to
eat!
Strategies to Try at Home!
1. Create a Meal/Snack Schedule
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No Grazing
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Offer at least one preferred food item at every meal
and/or snack
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Provide only water between scheduled meals and
snacks
Strategies to Try at Home!
2.Think Oral Motor Skills
 Practice spitting out foods!
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Use Straws
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Use Mirrors
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Avoid surprise foods such as salads and
scatter foods (i.e. rice)
Strategies to Try at Home!
3. Play
 Mess
 Cookie Cutters
 Pretend foods, cook
 Color pictures
 Use foods to make a picture,
 Let children experiment with foods
through stirring, squashing, smelling, or
pouring.
Strategies to Try at Home!
4. Family
 Use Positive reinforcement
 Don’t Copy negative reactions to food
 Create a food chart
 Kids can assist with shopping
 Make mealtime fun!
 Reinforce ANY
interaction with food!
Food Jags
What are they and how to avoid?
Eats the same food prepared the same way every day
or at every meal!
Children will eventually get burned out on these
foods and they are typically permanently lost out of
that child’s food range.
Prevention
Small Changes
Offer food ONLY every OTHER Day
Change the shape, color, taste, texture
JUST noticeable difference
Goal is 30 different foods
Cues to Eating
People
Utensils
Room
Furniture
Food
Time
WRAP UP – Q & A
Pediatric Development Center
207-699-5531