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Course Description and Learning Outcomes

As discussed in our first episode on feeding and swallowing (Feeding and Swallowing in Schools: Foundational Knowledge), treating feeding and swallowing disorders can be a very daunting task, and it’s not always clear where to begin.  Is it an issue with feeding or swallowing? How do you know it’s a sensory based feeding issue and not just behavior? What if you don’t know how to thicken liquids? What if you make a mistake? Begin brain explosion.  We had the pleasure of welcoming back Tracey Callahan for this second episode on feeding and swallowing to walk us through it.  Thank you again for joining us Tracey!

There are a lot of resources for how to treat feeding and swallowing deficits, including the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative, scouring the ASHA website, digging through the dusty graduate school books that you knew you would need some day, crowdsourcing on social media, amazing podcasts (looking at you Dysphagia Cafe, First Bite, Swallow your Pride, and Down the Hatch), and collaborating with a team.  And like every other treatment intervention, what resources you use will depend on the presentation of your client.  Will you use a compensation technique or a rehabilitative technique? Will you collaborate with your OT to brainstorm positioning? Or a BCBA to identify reinforcers or break a feeding task into discrete steps? Or maybe you will spend a few sessions building trust and rapport - one of the most important aspects of feeding and swallowing therapy.   In this episode we review each of these treatment strategies and discuss how and when they may be effective with someone with experience. We hope that after listening that you feel better prepared and equipped to interpret reports and make decisions about therapy.  

  1. Identify and define at least 2 modifications and compensation strategies commonly used in feeding and swallowing therapy

  2. Identify and explain at least 2 exposure strategies to address sensory-based feeding issues

  3. Define and explain food chaining techniques


Course Presenters

Director of Continuing Education, SLP Nerdcast Tracey Callahan, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC

Tracey has been been a Speech Pathologist for over 10 years and has worked in public and private schools, early intervention, outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, and most recently private practice. She has experience with children and adults addressing swallowing, language, and cognition. She has a lot of experience with feeding and swallowing and has presented on the topic locally, at the annual ASHA convention and also internationally. Tracey Callahan financial disclosures: Tracey is employed in a private practice setting in Boston MA, owns a private practice, and is the owner of an online learning platform called Guest Monster Games. Tracey Callahan non-financial disclosures: Tracey a member of ASHA and the corresponding special interest group (SIG 13) for Dysphagia.

SLP/BCBA; SLP Kate Grandbois (she/her) & Amy Wonkka (she/her

Kate and Amy are co-founders of SLP Nerdcast. Kate is a dually certified SLP / BCBA who works primarily as an "AAC Specialist." She owns a private practice with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, augmentative alternative communication intervention and assessment, and consultation. Amy is an SLP who also works as an "AAC Specialist" in a public school setting. Amy's primary interests are AAC, typical language development, motor speech, phonology, data collection, collaboration, coaching, and communication partner training and support.

Speaker Disclosures

Kate Grandbois financial disclosures: Kate is the owner / founder of Grandbois Therapy + Consulting, LLC and co-founder of SLP Nerdcast. Kate Grandbois non-financial disclosures: Kate is a member of ASHA, SIG 12, and serves on the AAC Advisory Group for Massachusetts Advocates for Children. She is also a member of the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT), MassABA, the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and the corresponding Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis SIG. 

Amy Wonkka financial disclosures: Kate is an employee of a public school system and co-founder of SLP Nerdcast.  Amy Wonkka non-financial disclosures: Amy is a member of ASHA, SIG 12, and serves on the AAC Advisory Group for Massachusetts Advocates for Children.

Tracey Callahan financial disclosures: Tracey is employed in a private practice setting in Boston MA, owns a private practice, and is the owner of an online learning platform called Guest Monster Games. Tracey Callahan non-financial disclosures: Tracey a member of ASHA and the corresponding special interest group (SIG 13) for Dysphagia.


Time Ordered Agenda

10 minutes: Introduction, Disclaimers and Disclosures

20 minutes:  Descriptions of modifications and compensation strategies commonly used in feeding and swallowing therapy

15 minutes:  Descriptions of exposure strategies to address sensory-based feeding issues

10 minutes:  Descriptions of food chaining techniques

5 minutes: Summary and Closing


References and Resources

Bahr, D. C., (2001). Oral motor assessment and treatment: Ages and stages, Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Mccauley, Rebecca & Strand, Edythe & Lof, Gregory & Schooling, Tracy & Frymark, Tobi. (2009). Evidence-Based Systematic Review: Effects of Nonspeech Oral Motor Exercises on Speech. American journal of speech-language pathology / American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 18. 343-60. 10.1044/1058-0360(2009/09-0006).

Food Chaining Adapted from Verna M. Baker, M.S., R.D., L.D. Cheri Fraker, CCC/SLP, CLC and Laura Walbert, CCC/SLP, CLC:  https://www.sensorysolutions.org/application/files/2214/9815/7292/Food_School_Handout-1.pdf

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative: https://iddsi.org/

ASHA Information on ICF: study: https://www.asha.org/uploadedFiles/ICF-Pediatric-Feeding-Swallowing.pdf

ASHA Resources on pediatric dysphagia: https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589934965&section=Treatment


Disclaimer

The contents of this episode are not meant to replace clinical advice.  SLP Nerdcast, its hosts and guests do not represent or endorse specific products or procedures mentioned during our episodes unless otherwise stated.  We are NOT PhDs, but we do research our material.  We do our best to provide a thorough review and fair representation of each topic that we tackle.  That being said, it is always likely that there is an article we’ve missed, or another perspective that isn’t shared.  If you have something to add to the conversation, please email us! We'd love to hear from you!


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