FOR NOW:📍30 Martin Street, Suite 4B - Cumberland, RI 02864
☎ 401-228-2186 📠 401-633-6237 info@bzbeestherapy.com intakes@bzbeestherapy.com
Specializing in Infant, Pediatric & Adolescent
Occupational, Physical,
Speech, & Feeding Therapy Services
Our Interprofessional
Feeding & Swallowing Program
Highly Tailored
Highly Specialized
We utilize strategies associated with Supporting Oral Feeding with Fragile Infants (SOFFI), SOS Approach to feeding therapy, Talks Tools Sensory-Motor Feeding Approach, Feeding & Swallowing Hierarchy, positioning and adaptive equipment, manual techniques, strengthening of oral motor structures, grading levels of support and expectations.
Feeding needs are COMPLEX! Our inter-professional team deploys a team-based approach to support each child's unique feeding needs. Our team includes occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists and a dietician to help support the outcomes for each of our families!
To meet the needs of our children and families, our care plans are highly tailored and inclusive of a variety of intervention approaches, tools, positions, equipment, environments, and sensory strategies. Our plans are constantly changing as our children progress with their outcomes.
Evidence-Based:
Interprofessional:
Innovative:
OUR FEEDING & SWALLOWING TEAM
Introducing...
Our Team of Speech & Occupational Therapists Specifically Trained in Feeding/Swallowing Intervention
Christina Gagosian
MS, OTR/L
Primary Speciality Areas:
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Complex feeding needs
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Dysphagia
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Oral motor skills
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Sensory-based feeding strategies
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Diet expansion
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Transition to solids
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SOS Certified
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SOFFI Certified
Danielle Elson
MS, CCC-SLP
Primary Specialty Areas
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Dysphagia
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Oral motor skills
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Complex feeding
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Infant feeding
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SOFFI Certified
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Sensory-Based Feeding
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SOS Certified
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Transition to Solids
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Diet Expansion
Chelsea Maziarz
MS, OTR/L, CAS
Primary Specialty Areas:
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Infant feeding
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Complex infant & pediatric feeding
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SOFFI Certified
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Enteral feeding transitions/weaning
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Dysphagia
Laura Collins
COTA/L
Primary Specialty Areas:
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Infant feeding
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SOFFI Certified
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Complex feeding
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Dysphagia
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Sensory-motor approach to feeding
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Diet expansion
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Enteral feeding transitions/weaning
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Sensory-based feeding
-
Transition to solids
Justine Rotz
MS, OTR/L
Primary Specialty Areas:
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Infant feeding
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SOFFI Certified
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Complex feeding
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Dysphagia
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Sensory-motor approach to feeding
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Diet expansion
-
Enteral feeding transitions/weaning
-
Sensory-based feeding
-
Transition to solids
Sally Donnelly
MS, CCC-SLP
Primary Specialty Areas:
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Dysphagia
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Oral motor skills
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Sensory-motor approach to feeding
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Complex feeding
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Diet expansion
-
Transition to solids
-
Enteral feeding transitions/weaning
-
Infant feeding
-
SOFFI Certified
Jessica Robin
MS, OTR/L
Primary Specialty Areas:
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Sensory-motor approach to feeding
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Diet expansion
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Sensory-based feeding
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Transition to solids
Potential Signs of Feeding &/or Swallowing Issues
Behaviors During Feeding
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Arches back
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Changes color
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Stiffens or goes limp
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Cries
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Fusses
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Falls asleep
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Gets stuffy/congested
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Coughs, gags, or spits
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Throws up out of mouth and/or nose
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Uncoordinated breathing while feeding or eating
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Prefers to only feed in one position, with one person, or is unable to generalize skills
Challenges w/ Textures, Mealtimes, & Health
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Refuses various textures
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Eats 10 or less foods (severe restriction)
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Eats 20 or less foods (medically significant restriction)
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Only eats certain textures, colors, shapes, temperatures of foods
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Fear, discomfort, anxiety around mealtime
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Difficult sitting for meals, attempting to use silly or distracting behavior to avoid task
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Appears to be decreasing in the number of accepted foods
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Frequent ear infections, upper respiratory infections, sinus infections, bronchiolitis, pneumonia
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Frequent skin issues including dermatitis, eczema, diaper rashes
Behaviors After Feeding
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Spits up or throws up immediately after or even several hours later
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Struggles to manage oral secretions (drool)
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Any episodes of food-colored liquid coming out of nose
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Blisters around lips
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Has gurgly, hoarse or breathy voice
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Noted to have "amazing head control" or can "stand" before developmentally appropriate (infants)
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Flattening of one side of head, consistent with head tilt/turn in one direction
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Becomes extremely uncomfortable when laid flat
Challenges Our Feeding
Team Can Help With
Difficulty breastfeeding or transitioning from breast to bottle
Difficulty with beginning textures or advancing textures
Difficulty with self-feeding, hands to mouth, use of utensils
Choking, gagging, or vomiting when eating
Feeding tube dependency, decreased oral intake, decreased calorie intake
Refusal of foods, liquids, or textures, tantrums during meal time
Common Diagnoses We Help Treat
Dysphagia
Pediatric feeding disorder
Gastroesophageal reflux
Gastric motility disorders impacting caloric intake, safe swallowing, and self-feeding
Palate defects
Autism Spectrum Disorder with impact on healthy, safe, and diverse food intake
Oral sensory aversion
Failure to thrive
Prematurity with impact on oral feeding
Oral motor dysfunction conditions
Dependence/presence of G-tube, NG-tube, GJ-tube
Feeding difficulties in infancy
Expected Outcomes
Increasing the awareness and coordination of oral structures
Improved family efficacy and confidence around feeding skills & mealtimes
Coordinating breathing with sucking and swallowing resulting in improved efficiency, intake, and safety during feeds
Increasing number of food textures, tastes, temperatures, smells, nutrient density, etc.
Weaning dependence on enteral support (tube feeding, caloric support, etc.)
Improving engagement in family-centered routines during meal times
Decreasing sensory aversion or sensitivity to tactile experiences (hands/mouth) sights, sounds, smells at meal times
Proper positioning for safety in eating and swallowing
Increasing variety of foods and calories
Expansion of texture with liquids and solids utilizing IDDSI standards
Continuous collaboration within team and with community/specialty providers to ensure the best outcomes for each child holistically
Let's Get Started!
Call to schedule your evaluation today!
During our evaluation we will review medical concerns and assess oral motor skills, swallowing skills, nutritional concerns, and behavioral concerns associated with mealtimes.