Edited 17/02/2021
Oral Aversion and Tube Feeding
MoobyCat
January 21, 2012 15:56
Does anyone have experience in either of these things? Have been speaking with social worker (pre approval, but it seemed quite specific) in relation to a two and a half year old who, because of some issues, has an oral aversion. He wants to eat and will try to eat little bits but is unable to keep anything down. He''s had testing done which indicates that it is a mental issue rather than a physiological issue. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this.I know it''s tough when the problem is psychological but does anyone have any idea what kind of therapies are involved in this sort of disorder and/or whether or not this is an incredibly difficult ''disability'' to deal with?
Lonsdale
January 21, 2012 16:49
Bumped up previous thread on peg tube feeding as it has both specific advice for peg tubing and general tube feeding advicel
Edited 17/02/2021
galapagos
January 21, 2012 18:48
yes i used to co run a feeding group for children who had oral aversion. Of the members who attended the majority were born prematurely and as a result of the tubes used in theior care had an oral aversion in toddlerhood/as young children. My advice would be to seek an assessment with a speech and language therapist and and occupational therapist. They both have expertise in feeding.gx
Edited 17/02/2021
MoobyCat
January 21, 2012 19:12
Just realised this is on the wrong forum. I misread and thought it was children with disabilities. Sorry all.
Edited 17/02/2021
mamaflump
January 21, 2012 19:27
as with galapagos I have run groups for children in this group. It is possible to overcome it. As a speech and language therapist I know that the oral feeding skills start with the sucking reflex and generally having things in the mouth; they then develop their tongue/cheek/oral muscles through feeding. A child who is peg or tube fed won't have had as much oral stimulation and therefore the sensations of things in their mouths are odd. occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychology are useful professionals for dealing with this difficulty.Good luck.MF
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Midge
January 22, 2012 10:42
My AS experienced this post chemotherapy. He has been a really good eater pre-treatment, but the horrors of chemo (he was on TPN - intravenous feeding for abou 6 weeks) he wouldn't drink let along eat, he would have nothing in his mouth at all. For almost a year he had a nasogastric tube and everything had to go by that, he wouldn't even drink a sip, and by two and a half was getting to the point where a gastrostomy was being considered cos he couldn't remain on an NG for ever.The change came with a holiday to florida when he was two and a half, lots of activity, hot, busy, lots of buffet type meals where I could put alsorts of foods in front of him, characters at several meals at Disney. He started to pick food up and eat bits, he started to drink from a cup with a straw. All this helped us turn a corner and when we got home I pulled his tube and decided we weren't going back to tube feeding, we'd battle through.He is an appalling eater but we get by. There is a clinic in Austria which specialises in treating these kids, there was a documentary on it a few years ago. A girl of about 9 had ended up dependent on her PEG long after it should have come out and they worked at desensitising her. By the end of three weeks she was drinking, eating some foods and was prepared to lick and taste new foods.This would be a work of time. You couldn't start anything relating to sorting this out till he'd been with you for a good while, it would be too traumatic and would probably make things worse. Do you have the time (are you giving up work permanently) for all the appointments and clinics you will have to go to?Midge
Edited 17/02/2021
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