Flip the Switch: NPO to Oral Feeding & Swallowing in Children

Description

Summary

This medically focused pediatric course examines the progression of oral feeding across a range of ages and clinical diagnoses. Participants will explore the role of SLPs in guiding feeding development and enteral tube weaning from the neonatal period through adolescence. Applicable to both medical and community settings, the course highlights principles of neuroplasticity, motor learning and sensory development as foundations for early intervention to optimize outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on key comorbidities and signs of dysphagia that impact readiness for achieving full oral (PO) intake.  Additionally, participants will review how instrumental assessments can be strategically utilized to inform timing of interventions and support advancement toward increasing oral intake and/or decreasing tube dependence.

Bio

Katy Peck, MA, CCC-SLP, CLE, BCS-S, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist board-certified in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and a current Doctor of Philosophy student at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She serves as a clinical leader at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and brings more than two decades of experience delivering developmental, feeding, swallowing, and communication interventions to infants through adults with complex aerodigestive conditions and comorbidities. Ms. Peck is an accomplished presenter, author, researcher, and educator with specialized expertise in high-risk, medically complex pediatric care.

Hema Desai, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLE, NTMTC, is a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of clinical experience working with families and children with feeding and swallowing disorders. She is currently working as an inpatient SLP at Rady Children's Health, Orange County, providing assessments and intervention in the areas of feeding, swallowing and communication disorders to infants, children and adolescents. She serves as a leader on various multidisciplinary teams within the hospital, using process improvement science in quality improvement projects. Hema has presented at several national and state conferences and has contributed to the field through peer-reviewed publications and a co-authored book chapter. Her clinical and research interests focus on pediatric feeding and dysphagia, with a particular emphasis on infants with congenital heart defects.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe at least two developmental factors influencing pediatric feeding progression at key milestones and how age and medical diagnoses shape individualized care plans.

2. Apply neuroplasticity, motor learning and sensory principles to designing evidence-based intervention strategies that support feeding skill acquisition. 

3. Evaluate the timing of instrumental feeding assessments in clinical decision making to  inform intervention planning and promote advancement toward increased oral intake and reduced tube dependence.