Supporting Individuals with Feeding Difficulties
Feeding is one of the most complex things we require our bodies to do because it involves every sensory system integrating information about our body and the world around us.
Online course. Immediate access.
Open to all. This course is aimed at Therapists, Dietitians, Psychologists and Teachers working with children described as fussy or picky eaters and those with feeding difficulties or challenges.
Over 10 hours of content and resources.
Includes Certificate of Completion and CPD Points.
£69 GBP. 60 day access.
Overview
Feeding is one of the most complex things we require our bodies to do because it involves every sensory system integrating information about our body and the world around us.
Supporting Individuals with Feeding Difficulties. Sensory Integration in Practice. A Multidisciplinary Perspective will be delivered by Laura Osman, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Advanced Sensory Integration Therapist, Feeding Therapist and Teacher and Louisa Hargett, a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Advanced Sensory Integration Therapist, Feeding Therapist and Teacher.
Laura and Louisa are experienced in conducting complex multidisciplinary team feeding assessments and intervention for individuals and for school-wide feeding interventions.
Teaching and learning will be supported with engaging presentations, photos, videos, quizzes and clinical discussions between Laura and Louisa.
Is this course suitable for those working with adults with learning disabilities and feeding difficulties?
The lecturers are paediatric therapists and therefore talk about feeding in relation to children, including children with severe and complex needs.
However, the information and content of the course would support those working with adults with learning difficulties to think about the impact of earlier feeding experiences, the sensory profile of an individual and how this might relate to their current experience of food. They discuss assessment, strategies for developing feeding skills, the importance of playful interactions with food/ sensory experiences along with establishing mealtime routines and promoting autonomy and responsibility in mealtimes which is all as relevant for adults with learning difficulties as it is for children.
How does this training fit in with other feeding approaches?
Louisa and Laura are trained and experienced in other well-known clinical feeding approaches. They have used their knowledge and experience in therapy and in education to support professionals to understand why children experience difficulties and relate this to challenges you might see in their sensory integration and in all other areas of their development.
This course is designed to inspire professionals to implement therapeutic and educational changes that are sustainable and achievable within their particular services. Sensory feeding challenges/picky eating is an area that is often under-recognised and underfunded despite the prevalence of need which increases the need for sustainable interventions.
It will enable professionals to identify and respond to the level of need within their service to improve children's experiences of food every day.
However, if you have limited resources, limited support and need to prove that you can make an impact in your setting or service then this course will empower therapists to implement changes that are sustainable before specialising in other approaches to feeding.
Objectives
This course will provide you with a multidisciplinary perspective to understanding the complexity of feeding and will provide strategies that will inform therapeutic and educational planning to support children with feeding difficulties to improve their relationship with food.
You will learn the theory and what it means in practice.
Who should complete this course?
Open to all.
This course is aimed at Therapists, Dietitians, Psychologists and Teachers working with children described as fussy or picky eaters and those with feeding difficulties or challenges.
This course expects the audience to have a sound understanding of sensory integration theory. Therefore, if required, we would strongly recommend that participants complete the online Introduction to Sensory Integration Difficulties for Everyone before starting this course.
This course has closed captioned videos.
Technology requirements
Stable WiFi/Broadband - This is an online course. You cannot download this course. You cannot access it without being connected to WiFi Broadband.
Google Chrome browser (latest version) - You may not be able to view the learning content and assessments properly whilst using other browsers.
Welcome to the Course
Feeding How to Engage with the Course
Introducing Laura Osman
Introducing Louisa Hargett
Aims and Learning Outcomes: Handouts
Course Aims and Learning Outcomes
References, Videos and Websites
Experiences of Food: Handouts
Before starting this chapter, watch this YouTube video (Eating Toads in China)
Experiences of Food
Experiences of Food Reflection
Typical Development of Feeding Handouts
Typical Feeding Development
Evolution of Eating
The Complexity of Feeding Handouts
The Context of Eating
Iceberg Analogy
Reflection Sheet
Discussion
Quiz to get you thinking
What are Feeding Difficulties: Handouts
What are Feeding Difficulties?
Feeding Difficulties: Why?: Handouts
Feeding Difficulties: Why?
Sensory Integration and Feeding Difficulties
SI and Feeding Difficulties Discussion
Physical Skills and Feeding Difficulties
Physical Skills and Feeding Difficulties Discussion
Physiology, Psychology and Feeding Difficulties
Communication and Feeding Difficulties
Physiology, Psychology and Communication Difficulties Discussion
Risks of Commonly Used Strategies: Handouts
Risks of Commonly Used Strategies
Risks of commonly Used Strategies Discussion
Strategies to Develop Feeding: Handouts
Strategies to Develop Feeding: Sensory Integration
Strategies to Develop Feeding: Physical Skills
Sensory Integration and Physical Skills Discussion
Strategies to Develop Feeding: Play Skills (Part 1)
Strategies to Develop Feeding: Play Skills (Part 2)
Play Skills Discussion
Developing Mealtime Routines
Developing Food Acceptance
Developing Mealtime Routines and Food Acceptance Discussion
Developing Communication
Developing Communication Discussion
What Does it Mean for Intervention: Handouts
What Does it mean for Intervention?
Discussion
Thank You
Laura Osman
I started my career working in Haringey as a Speech and Language Therapist in the community preschool team before taking the opportunity to use my therapy knowledge and skills in the classroom by teaching at a school for children with Special Educational Needs. Working with children with Autism and severe learning difficulties, understanding sensory needs quickly became the priority.
The principles of Ayres Sensory Integration underpins all of the work I do. Understanding a child’s sensory processing and utilising a sensory integrative approach is essential in working towards their therapeutic and educational targets. I am passionate about providing early intervention for children with severe and complex needs, including Autism. A colleague and I have written an inclusive curriculum for preschool and key stage 1 pupils with special educational needs based on our work in a preschool in North London. You can read more about the curriculum and our work here.
You can see a short video from Laura here.Louisa Hargett
You see information about Louisa Hargett on her website here.
All Courses, For Professionals, For Therapists, For NHS, HCNI and HSE, For Schools, Autism, Feeding
All Courses, For Professionals, For Therapists, For NHS, HCNI and HSE, For Schools, Feeding