We surface #micronutrients, a trusted colleague Tessa Taylor, PhD, BCBA-D, and a warm online tubie community.
Welcome to PUMP! Every fortnight we will bring you information about all things home tube feeding. You will hear from people who have lived experience, about services and products designed to ease life with a feeding tube, new research in the area, and more.
Prolonged tube feeding has a multitude of negative outcomes. The transition to oral feeding is essential for child and family quality of life. Behaviour-analytic interventions are effective for paediatric feeding disorders, but information is lacking regarding the treatment process and outcomes. This study evaluated a home-based behavioural intervention for a 19-month-old child dependent on tube feeding. An intensive period was followed by caregiver support to advance feeding skills. We applied differential reinforcement and volume fading within a multiple probe design. Results showed clinically significant behavioural and nutritional outcomes, the cessation of tube feeding, and a process valued by the family.
“Our review focused on looking at the evidence across different treatment options for transitioning children from tube feeding to eating (commonly known as tube weaning).” “Behavioural treatments reported significant gains in oral consumption and improvement in mealtime behaviours but there were less reports of children being tube weaned. Behavioural studies often involved children with very complex and severe feeding difficulties, and many had DD.” “A high level of treatment intensity is needed, at least over a few weeks. This involves multiple meals per day, over consecutive days.”
During last year’s FTAW 2022 Virtual Education Program, Dr Tessa Taylor and Dr Sarah Leadley presented their research on childhood feeding difficulties and experience with home-based interventions in Australia and New Zealand to help children with tube dependence learn to eat new foods and progress with feeding skills.
Dr. Kathryn Peterson, Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Director of Intensive Feeding Program Operations, is here to share how our Pediatric Intensive Feeding Program works with kids who are ready to transition off of tube feedings.