Feeding and Swallowing in the NICU:
Master Feeding Therapy in the NICU and Beyond
Feeding difficulties in the NICU are common and present unique challenges, even for experienced therapists. Premature infants and medically fragile or sick newborns differ significantly from typically developing, healthy newborns. To serve this population effectively, therapists must understand their fragile and immature subsystems, the maturation process of these systems, and how to positively impact them.
This comprehensive two-day seminar provides a solid foundation in evidence-based practice, offering theory and critical analysis of key areas such as:
- Subsystem analysis, swallowing safety, and function
- Therapeutic interventions that are both appropriate and effective
- Family and caregiver engagement to support successful outcomes
- Discharge planning to ensure continuity of care
Additional topics include the infant's communication skills, the impact of positioning on feeding and swallowing, pre-feeding skills, therapeutic feeding trials, bottle and breastfeeding techniques, family involvement, and feeding in palliative care.
Through interactive lectures, videos, case studies, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, participants will expand their knowledge and skills. This seminar empowers feeding therapists to confidently support fragile infants in the NICU and beyond, equipping them with tools to make a meaningful difference for this vulnerable population.
What to Bring:- A baby doll with soft movable extremities OR a "NDT doll"
- One receiving blanket
- One baby bottle
Course Level: Introductory
Assessment Methods: Labs, Case Study Discussions, Q&A, Self-Assessment on Evaluation
For events that are Live Streamed, the streaming participants will verify attendance through codes given throughout course and complete a multiple choice quiz (80% passing score) and evaluation at the end
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe embryologic development and maturation and impact of prematurity on feeding and swallowing skills
- Explain environmental, physiologic, sensory motor and psychosocial influences in this specialized population that affect feeding and swallowing
- Identify readiness signs to begin pre-feeding and oral feeding opportunities
- Indicate appropriate clinical analysis for thorough evaluation of feeding and swallowing skills
- Detail at least 3 feeding treatments to enhance feeding and swallowing skills
- Determine appropriate involvement of feeding therapy in palliative care
- State common feeding difficulties that can arise with NICU graduates following transition home
- Detail 3 appropriate techniques and plan to facilitate a successful transition home
- Establish thorough discharge recommendations and follow up needed
Course Instructor(s)
Karin Mitchell
M.A. CCC-SLP
Karin Mitchell is a worldwide respected Speech Language Pathologist specializing in the care and treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing, developmental care of the medically fragile infant and child, and pediatric traumatic brain injury. Her love of teaching and helping others drives her to create and deliver fun and empowering continuing education courses across the nation and internationally. Areas covered are Developmental Care in the NICU, Cue Based Feeding, pediatric feeding and swallowing analysis and treatment, including the use of VitalStim, swallow studies, enhancing decision making and clinical analysis, breast feeding the medically fragile infant and child, and developmental milestones supporting feeding skill acquisition. Beginning her practice in 1995, Karin sought out learning opportunities and creative ways to teach others. She now serves as a lead therapist for the NICU and Feeding Teams at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange, CA. With a clinical practice formed by a strong theory base in NDT and SI therapies, Karin is also NOMAS trained and VitalStim certified. She provides ongoing education in-services and hands-on labs for appropriate developmental care, positioning, handling, and feeding skills for clinical staff including medical residents, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists. Karin was a key player in the development of unit protocols and care plans for evidence-based developmental care in the highly specialized Small Baby Unit (ELBW) at CHOC which includes an ongoing education series required by all medical and support personnel. She is an active committee member for multiple qualities of care committees including Skin to Skin Care, Developmental Care, Infant Driven Feeds, Breast Feeding Coalition, Palliative Care, Neuro NICU Team, Trauma Team, and Family Centered Care. A dedicated leader, Karin devotes much of her time to the support and development of clinicians, serving as a mentor committed to building therapist's skills in clinical analysis and therapeutic effectiveness with medically fragile patients. She is a strong advocate for her patients and their families and speaks at local associations, community centers, local universities, and school districts to support medically fragile infants and children.
Financial Disclosure: Karin receives an honorarium from CIAO for the presentation of this course. She also receives royalties for the purchase of her recorded course(s)
Non-financial Disclosure: Karin uses VitalStim in her clinical practice.
Course Agenda
Day 1
Day 2
Contact hours pre-approved for:
- 14.5 hours
- CIAO is an ASHA Approved Provider #AAWA (1.45 ASHA CEUs) bubble sheet submission required
- ASHA CE Provider Approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.
- CIAO is an AOTA approved provider #4119 (OT/COTA)
- This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (14.5 PDUs)
- The Physical Therapy Board of California recognizes CIAO Seminars as an Approval Agency to Approve Providers Offering Continuing Competency Courses
- The Physical Therapy Board of California has determined that CIAO meets the standards set forth in section 1399.95 of the CA Code of Regulations
- This activity is provided by the Texas Board of PT Examiners Accredited Prov #2502009#TX
- The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE
- This activity meets continuing competence requirements for PT/PTA license renewal in TX
- CIAO is a PT Approved Provider #BAP202310092 for the Oklahoma Medical Board. All PT courses for the 2022-2023 reporting period are approved.
- CIAO is a Rule Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Physical Therapy
- CIAO is an Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy
- Pre-Approved for:
- 14.5 Hrs. PT/PTAs in CA (CIAO23-60), IL, OK(#BAP202310092), TX (APTA TX #2502009 for 14.5 CCUs)
- 14.5 hrs by the CA Board of OT for Advanced Practice (Swallowing): #25-S22
- 15.0 Hrs Illinois EI (3.0 Assessment, 3.5 Atypical Development, 5.0 Intervention, 3.0 Typical Development, 0.5 Working with Families)
- 17.0 Hrs. PT/PTAs and OT/OTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-588048)
Course meets requirements for:
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)
Introductory Level
1.45 ASHA CEUs
CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.