When Feeding Therapy Stalls: Re-Evaluating the Whole Child

This course focuses on clinical re-evaluation and decision-making when progress in feeding therapy plateaus or regresses. Participants will explore how medical status, oral-motor skills, sensory processing, regulation, caregiver dynamics, and environmental factors may contribute to stalled progress in pediatric feeding intervention. Emphasis is placed on reassessing the “whole child” rather than increasing treatment intensity or adding isolated techniques.
Participants will examine indicators that signal the need to pause, modify, or redirect intervention, as well as when referral or interdisciplinary collaboration is warranted. It will also discuss the mental load of the parent and family when a child is having difficulty eating. This course is designed for feeding therapists seeking to strengthen assessment-driven practice and implement thoughtful, ethical approaches when feeding therapy outcomes do not progress as expected.