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1484 Assessment and Treatment of Feeding in Children with Autism: One Team's Approach

Saturday, July 16, 2005: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

103 (Nashville Convention Center)

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Participants will review common feeding problems in autism. Components of an interdisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment will be presented. Disciplines will include: dietetics, psychology, occupational therapy, and speech/language pathology. Emphasis will be placed on parent-professional collaboration in assessment and treatment. ASA PROPOSAL

A frequent dilemma for parents of young children with autism surrounds the feeding process. Nutritional concerns, oral-motor problems, sensory issues, and behavioral characteristics associated with autism all contribute to family anxiety. This presentation will review common feeding problems in children with autism and best practices relating to assessment, therapy, and parent/ professional collaboration.

Participants will review the more common feeding problems in children with autism. They will gain knowledge on the frequency of these problems and how many of these problems evolve and continue to impact feeding. Some of the issues to be reviewed will include medically related problems such as gastro esophageal reflux, structural deviations, oral-motor skill delay, sensory processing disorders, and nutritional concerns. The presentation will also consider behavioral difficulties that may contribute to feeding problems such as the rigidity associated with autism spectrum disorders and the functional understanding of how parent and child behavior may inadvertently interact to sustain feeding problems.

Evaluations are best achieved in an interdisciplinary setting. Discussion of evaluation techniques will include relevant family history, medical review, nutritional log, sensory assessment, behavioral assessment of child and family behavior and interactions, oral mechanism exam, feeding observation and trials, communication related to feeding, and professional/ family problem-solving session. Each of these components will be discussed in some detail. Learning will be enhanced by the use of videotapes and relevant case material.

Theoretical support will be reviewed for treatment. Each presenter will discuss therapy techniques relevant to their area of expertise. Videos and case studies will be used to illustrate the various techniques under consideration. In the context of treatment, roadblocks that arise within the course of treatment will be described along with the steps taken to problem-solve each of these roadblocks. Parent/ professional collaboration is essential in developing an effective therapy plan. With increasing emphasis on evidence-based practices, parent-professional collaboration has consistently been found to be the most efficacious treatment modality for dealing with many of the problems of childhood including feeding issues.

The following learning objectives will be covered in this presentation: (1) the learner will be able to explain the impact and frequency of feeding problems upon children with autism and their families. (2) Participants will identify the essential components of a thorough assessment of feeding. (3) Attendees will be able to explain the roles of the various disciplines involved in assessment and treatment. (4) Participants will describe the goals and techniques of an effective feeding treatment program. (5) The learner will be able to identify the skills needed for effective parent/ professional collaboration in the treatment of feeding issues.

Content Area: Family and Sibling Support

Presenters:

Jocelyn Warren
Senior Occupational Therapist
Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center

Jocelyn Warren graduated from the Ohio State University in 1989. She has over 12 years experience working with children. She has been a Senior OT at the Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center (WCEC) for the past 5 years. At WCEC she serves as a team member on interdisciplinary team evaluations,completes individual OT evaluations, and provides individual and group therapy services. She has lectured with the Kentucky Autism Training Center and presented at the ASA conference.

Patricia Blackwell
Speech-Language Pathologist
Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center

Patricia Blackwell is a speech/language pathologist who has been practicing for more than 20 years. She is jointly appointed to the Weisskopf Center and the Department of Communicative Disorders at the University of Louisville. She has a consistent interest in children with communication and feeding problems.

Eva Roberts Markham
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center

Dr. Markham is a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience serving clients of all ages. She is a faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville. Her interests include parent support, behavioral intervention, and diagnostic assessment. Dr. Markham enjoys training local, regional and national audiences.

Diana C. Pantalos
Dietitian
Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center

Diana Pantalos has been working if the field of pediatric nutrition for more than 20 years. She completed a bachelor's and master's degree in Food and Nutrition at Ohio State University, and a residency in Pediatric Nutrition at Indiana University. In her current position she is the dietitian in the feeding clinic at the Weisskopf Center for the Evaluation of Children, and she works with families in their homes through Early Intervention.

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