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.

Autonomy at the Table: Case Studies in Diet Texture Modification

Hillary Cooper, M.A., CCC-SLP, Doctoral Candidate is a speech-language pathologist, educator, and researcher specializing in adult dysphagia, informed consent, and evidence-based swallowing assessment. She co-founded Dysphagia Outreach Project, a national 501(c)(3) improving access to dysphagia supplies. Hillary is a current member of the Simucase Advisory Board and has previously served as the Treasurer of the Council for State Association Presidents (CSAP) and Past President of the Louisiana Speech-Language Hearing Association (LSHA). She currently owns North Louisiana Swallow Solutions, a mobile FEES practice. With more than 15 years of clinical and leadership experience, Hillary’s work centers on advancing ethical, patient-centered dysphagia care through research, teaching, and advocacy. She is completing her doctoral degree at Baylor University, where her scholarship focuses on barriers to shared decision-making in texture-modified diet recommendations.

Course abstract

Diet texture modification is one of the most common and most clinically sensitive interventions in dysphagia management. While recommendations often focus on safety, clinicians must also navigate the ethical and legal responsibilities of obtaining informed consent. This session offers a practical, case-based exploration of how to implement informed consent for diet texture changes in real-world clinical settings, including long-term care, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and home health.

Through detailed case studies, attendees will examine key elements of an effective consent process: assessing decision-making capacity, presenting risks and benefits in understandable language, offering meaningful alternatives, confirming comprehension, and documenting decisions clearly and defensibly. Each case highlights practical communication strategies and frameworks clinicians can apply immediately in their own practice.

Attendees will leave with clear tools, including consent checklists, documentation templates, and strategies for integrating informed consent into everyday workflows. Whether working with medically complex patients, supporting individuals at the end of life, or counseling families through difficult decisions, clinicians will gain confidence in guiding respectful, patient-centered conversations about diet texture modification.

Prior to attending this session, it is highly recommended that you watch THIS FREE WEBINAR.

Learners will be required to complete a self assessment at the end of this course.

Course objectives:

1) Participants will be able to identify 3 essential components of informed consent discussions related to diet texture modifications.

2) Participants will be able to apply an informed consent framework to real-world scenarios using case studies.

3) Participants will be able to utilize three tools to facilitate the informed consent process. 

Financial Disclosures:

Owner, North Louisiana Swallow Solutions (receives salary, ownership interest)

Faculty, McDaniel College (receives salary)

Non-financial Disclosures:

President & Co-founder, Dysphagia Outreach Project

Doctoral Candidate, Baylor University

Member of Simucase Advisory Board2024-2025 Treasurer for Council for State Association Presidents (CSAP)

Past President of the Louisiana Speech-Language Hearing Association (LSHA)

Intermediate Level 0.15 ASHA CEUs in Ethics

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