Occupational Therapy practitioners are seeing a growing number of referrals for feeding disorders. This presentation will provide strategies for evaluation and treatment that can be applied across practice settings, primarily focusing on implementation in the outpatient clinic and schools. Participants will identify common causes of feeding disorders. Treatment strategies will include sensory, motor, and behavioral interventions. The presentation will offer a unique opportunity to discuss sibling and peer supported interventions, which maximize success in the home and school cafeteria. Participants will identify clients that will benefit from group interventions or a mixed-methods approach, utilizing individual and group opportunities. Finally, methods for successfully and safely transitioning feeding intervention to virtual implementation will be shared. The presentation will include case studies and videos. 

Day 1: OT LUNCH BOX: Tools and Techniques for Evaluation and Treatment  **REGISTER HERE**

• Effectively evaluate and determine causes of feeding disorders.

• Expand knowledge of treatment intervention and available feeding equipment for pediatric clients. 

• Identify clients who will benefit from group intervention, or a mixed methods approach (combined individual and group services).

• Define criterion for peer models.

• Define considerations for group size, peer-to-client ratio, food needs, and financial commitment. 

• Apply concepts from sensory and play based theories to the group setting. 

• Effectively and safely plan virtual treatment sessions. 

• Improve parent education and collaboration, while establishing effective mealtime routines.

• Define approaches to maximize generalization of new skills in the home environment. 

The presenter:

Danielle R. Petrozelle, MS OTR/L, BCP, CKTP, graduated from Gannon University in 2007.  Mrs. Petrozelle is currently employed at Akron Children's Hospital in Boardman, OH.  She is a member of the Multidisciplinary Feeding Team. Mrs. Petrozelle was employed for 12 years at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Rehabilitation where she worked primarily in outpatient services. She served as the Program Manager for Student Education and Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator. Mrs. Petrozelle's interest in feeding began with a dysphagia training course while on fieldwork at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  This training included participation in bedside swallow studies and VFSS. Mrs. Petrozelle has completed the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol and served as a lab assistant.  She has completed Food Chaining and is certified in the Sequential Oral Sensory Approach (SOS). Mrs. Petrozelle also has extensive training in Applied Behavioral Analysis, giving a unique perspective on the incorporation of behavioral and sensory strategies simultaneously. Mrs. Petrozelle has lectured on feeding topics at State and National venues.