Feeding and Swallowing in the NICU:
Feeding difficulties in the NICU are common and can be challenging for even experienced therapists. Premature infants and medically fragile/sick newborns are unique from typically developing healthy newborns. An appreciation of their fragile and immature sub systems, maturation of these subsystems around feeding and swallowing, as well as our ability to impact these systems, are required to be a successful clinician serving this population. This two day seminar will provide a strong foundation in evidence based information, theory and critical analysis of: sub system analysis, swallowing safety and function, appropriate and effective therapeutic interventions, family/caregiver engagement and discharge planning. Infant's communication skills, positioning impact on feeding and swallowing, pre-feeding skills, therapeutic feeding trials, bottle and breast feeding, family involvement, and feeding in palliative care will also be discussed. Along with interactive lectures; videos, pictures, case studies, demonstrations and activities will be used to further expand learning opportunities and empower participants as feeding therapists with this fragile population in the NICU and beyond.
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
AOTA Classification Codes
Domain of OT: Client Factors, Activity Demands
OT Process: Intervention
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
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
07:30 - 08:00
Registration (snack/refreshments provided)
08:00 - 08:30
Objectives & Clinical Expectations
08:30 - 09:00
Embryology & Maturation of Feeding and Swallowing
09:00 - 10:00
Brain & Sensory Development
10:00 - 10:15
Break
10:15 - 12:00
NICU Environment: impact on the Patient, Family & Feeding Development
12:00 - 01:00
Lunch (on your own)
01:00 - 01:30
NICU Medical Terminology & Hot Topics
01:30 - 03:00
Suck Patterns & Swallowing Development
03:00 - 03:15
Break
03:15 - 04:00
Feeding Readiness Assessment & Programs
04:00 - 04:30
Signs of Stability vs Stress
04:30 - 05:00
Questions & Answers
Day 2
07:00 - 07:30
Registration (snack/refreshments provided)
07:30 - 08:30
Key Components of a Thorough Evaluation
08:30 - 09:00
Analysis of Readiness to Oral Feed: Video Interpretation
09:00 - 10:00
Quality of Nippling Analysis: Video Interpretation
10:00 - 10:15
Break
10:15 - 11:15
Set Up for Success: Pre-Feeding Interventions
11:15 - 12:00
NNS Interventions
12:00 - 01:00
Lunch (on your own)
01:00 - 02:00
NS Interventions
02:00 - 02:15
Break
02:15 - 03:00
Swallowing & Feeding Interventions: Sensory Processing Disorders, Oral Aversion & Severe Swallowing
03:00 - 03:30
Successful Transition Home
03:30 - 04:00
Questions & Answers
Contact hours pre-approved for:
- 14.5 hours (1.45 CEUs)
- CIAO is an ASHA approved provider #AAWA (SLPs) Bubblesheet required
- This program is offered for 1.45 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area)
- CIAO is an AOTA approved provider #4119 (OT/COTA)
- This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (14.5 PDUs)
- 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. OT/OTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-588048)
- 14.5 Hrs PT/PTAs in LA
Course meets requirements for:
Call CIAO 888-909-CIAO(2426) if you have questions about CE Approval
Participants who successfully complete this course will receive CEU Certificate at the end of the course.
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)
This program is offered for 1.45 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area)
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.
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.
Day 1
Day 2
Contact hours pre-approved for:
- 14.5 hours (1.45 CEUs)
- CIAO is an ASHA approved provider #AAWA (SLPs) Bubblesheet required
- This program is offered for 1.45 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area)
- CIAO is an AOTA approved provider #4119 (OT/COTA)
- This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (14.5 PDUs)
- 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. OT/OTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-588048)
- 14.5 Hrs PT/PTAs in LA
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)
This program is offered for 1.45 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area)
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.