Empirically Supported Treatments for Feeding Difficulties in Young Children

Abstract

Pediatric feeding problems are common among children and present severe issues for families. Unfortunately, treatment outcome studies with this population are sparse. The current study reviews the literature regarding treatment studies of children with severe feeding issues, provides an overview of empirically supported treatments for children who do eat orally, and finally summarizes interventions that attempt to reintroduce oral feeding to children who have been fed by gastrostomy tube or other non-oral feeding route.

Messy Play Therapy in the Treatment of Food Aversion in a Patient With Intestinal Failure: Our Experience

“…Further studies should incorporate a comparison between the various methods with a strict definition for “success,” along with an assessment of anxiety in both the child and the parent. Finally, Davis et al also concluded that because children who present with feeding difficulties are so heterogeneous, it is possible that a variety of treatments will need to be developed or tailored to the unique needs of these subgroups of children.…”

“…It appears difficult to find a unique accepted treatment because there are few rigorous scientific studies evaluating treatment for this population. The major part of the available studies is retrospective, and this limits their generalizability …”

“…The major part of the available studies is retrospective, and this limits their generalizability. 13 Previous studies highlighted how to develop a child's interest in food, advocating activities such as cooking, messy play, and playing touching food. [14][15][16][17] Messy play therapy (MPT) uses the senses to gradually desensitize children to different smells and textures within play, without the pressure to taste or eat.…”

Aspiration and Swallowing Dysfunction in Pediatric Patients

“…16,25 Empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of pediatric dysphagia treatment strategies is scant, though there is accumulating research on interventions in specific populations with common medical diagnoses. 26 At this time, treatment recommendations for the management of swallowing dysfunction and aspiration are primarily made in the context of the instrumental examination based on patient responses to compensatory strategy trials introduced by the clinician and by the clinician's expertise in dysphagia treatment. Specific types of compensatory dysphagia treatment strategies may be indicated and include modifying positioning during feeding, altering the viscosity of the fluid or solid boluses, or adjusting the bolus flow rate or mode of delivery.…”

Мікроаспіраційний Синдром У Практиці Педіатра: Сучасні Особливості І Роль У Формуванні Бронхообструктивного Синдрому

“…Значительную роль в формировании хронической микроаспирации у них играют практически все манипуляции, связанные с компенсацией дыхательной недостаточности, проводимой в условиях отделений реанимации и интенсивной терапии [2,8].…”