We
have found over time that the younger the child
is the easier it is to treat. The more experience
the child has with feeding issues, the harder
it is to correct.
We work with the child, infant or toddler as much as needed to fix your child's eating problem. We tailor
our feeding protocols according to the needs of your child,
as well as to the parent. Some parents have to
travel long distances, and that is sometimes a
consideration for the particular parent.
In regards to cases that involve a feeding tube, we have found that eliminating only some tube dependence is not effective. At the Los Altos Feeding Clinic, we strive to completely eliminate any tube dependence during feeding therapy so that all nutritional needs, caloric needs, and hydrational needs are met orally. Anything less than complete elimination of feeding tube dependence after completion of feeding therapy is considered a failure at the Los Altos Feeding Clinic.
One of the advantages at the Los Altos Feeding clinic is our ability to be flexible enough to make feeding treatment as effective and efficient as possible. We work with families to find a schedule that meets the child's feeding needs.
For International or Out-of-State Clients
Many of our clients come from other countries or regions of the country. We modify our feeding program on a case-by-case basis to assess, achieve and maintain feeding goals. Please contact us for more specific information. We can also help you find proper accommodations for your stay.
Initial Evaluation
This is the first step in determining which feeding therapy program would be suitable for your child, infant or toddler. The child is evaluated during a meal to identify problematic behaviors and potential feeding goals to be achieved at the clinic. This also serves as an interview for documenting your child's medical and feeding history. After the initial evaluation, your child will be assigned to either the day feeding therapy program or the intensive feeding therapy program.
Day Feeding Therapy Program
Typically we would like to see a child three times a week. Most problems can be corrected
in no more than 4-6 weeks. Some take less, some
more. It all depends on the case.
Intensive
Feeding Therapy Program
This program is 5 days per week with three to four meals per day. In rare instances a fifth meal is added. The program length is 4-6 weeks. The intensive feeding therapy program is customized to ensure that all feeding goals are met.
In some cases exceptions are made and a child or infant is seen 7 days a week (particularly in NG-tube cases). We do whatever is needed to correct your child's feeding issues.
Feeding Therapy Overview for Day or Intensive Feeding Therapy Programs
We work with your child one on one while you observe from the outside. We work with your child's particular feeding problems, while continually modifying your child's protocol to suit optimal feeding during each point in time. We do this until we reach our feeding goals (i.e. elimination of tube dependence, decrease in vomiting, eating a variety of foods, increased texture, decreased food refusal during meals, and/or self-feeding). We work one-on-one until your child reaches a period of stability, or the meal meets or exceeds our set goals.
Once stability is achieved in your child's eating, we then fade parents and caregivers into the meal, in order to train them according to a highly refined feeding protocol.
Training consists of learning your child's protocol, doing a mock session, and actually feeding your child according to protocol with a feeding consultant present. As parents or caregivers become more efficient and confident during feedings, the feeding therapist is faded out of the meal, and feedback during the meal is given during and after a meal.
Once meals are stable with the parents and caregivers feeding, meals are then generalized to other settings to increase the likelihood of a smooth transition to the home setting. We end each admission by doing meals in your home (locally), in order to problem-solve any issues that may come up at home during mealtimes.
Follow-Up
This is the most important part of both the day treatment and intensive programs. It is not enough for your child to be eating at the Los Altos Feeding Clinic according to the feeding goals set. Your child, toddler or infant, regardless of feeding issue, should eat in the same manner or better at home. That is why we emphasize follow-up through phone calls, webcam, and other video footage. When the program is completed, we strongly encourage parents to call or email with any problems, concerns, or questions regarding feeding protocols, feeding problems at home, or advancing to other feeding stages, such as self-feeding or texture. There is somebody ready to return calls or emails seven days a week, day or night. We are here to not only support parents during their admission, but also subsequent to feeding treatment.
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