January 2026 Lunch and Learn: Complex Cases in Pediatric Feeding Disorders

Dr. Rebecca Smith is a clinical assistant professor, speech-language pathologist, and board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders. She has a diverse clinical background and expertise in dysphagia management of medically complex patients across the lifespan. Prior to this role, she managed clinical trials in head and neck cancer and movement disorders at Northwestern University under the mentorship of Dr. Bonnie-Martin Harris in the Swallowing Cross-Systems Collaborative Lab. Her research and clinical interests focus on improving access to high-quality dysphagia diagnostics across the lifespan in rural communities and advancing programmatic development of clinical pathways to optimize dysphagia care.

Abstract: Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is defined as "impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and psychosocial dysfunction" (Goday et al., 2019, p. 124). PFD is becoming more prevalent due to medical advancements that increase the lifespan and reduce morbidity and mortality rates in medically complex children, along with rising diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder. With this increase in PFD prevalence, there is a growing demand for speech-language pathologists specializing in feeding skills in this patient population. However, graduate programs often do not adequately prepare speech-language pathologists for managing these medically complex cases. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss complex feeding and swallowing cases in infants and pediatrics, providing tangible outcomes that the audience can apply to their caseloads immediately.

Objectives: 

• Define Pediatric Feeding Disorder and its 

  associated domains. ​

• Interpret complex patient case histories and

  create actionable plans of care supported by

  the literature.​

• Demonstrate critical thinking in complex 

  pediatric cases to improve evidence-based 

  practice and patient care outcomes.

Financial Disclosures: salary from LSUHS Shreveport, pediatric feeding therapy LLC consultant, consultant for University of South Carolina SAVOR lab, adjunct clinical assistant professor at Northwestern University.

Nonfinancial disclosures: CE committee member for American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders 

Intermediate Level 0.10 ASHA CEUs 

ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.