Pediatric Dysphagia-Procedures

Catalog description

This course provides a solid foundation in the typical development of feeding and the disorders of feeding. Students learn to conduct a clinical feeding evaluation and apply treatment principles that are evidence-based. The course covers the developmental stages of bottle feeding through advancing textures and cup drinking. We discuss tube weaning, sensory-motor issues and multi-component feeding disorders in medically-involved children. There is a special unit on premature infants. Graduate students spend the day rotating through 3 stimulation experiences in the high fidelity NICU center where infant manikins produce stress and aspiration-risk cues. The graduate students conduct a bottle readiness assessment as part of the experience. Early Intervention topics from earlier in the MS program extend into this specialty course with a NJ EIS focus. Our clinical focus is on late talkers, autism spectrum disorder and children at biological and/or environmental risk for communication and feeding disorders. The course is deeply rooted in evidence -based practice of the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association and the World Health Organization.