Feeding Children with Development Difficulties course for Dietitians

This session explores the difficulty children with neurological disabilities commonly encounter with feeding, together with associated problems that can result in growth failure and malnutrition-related multi-system complications. It covers assessment and management, which often involves a range of professionals including a dietitian, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, paediatrician and GP.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify the types of problems children with developmental difficulties may have with feeding and how this in turn may adversely affect nutritional status
• Describe the commonly used interventions to address feeding problems, and the role of tube feeding
• Explain some of the practical aspects of gastrostomy insertion and management

Nutritional problems are very common in children with developmental delay and neurological disability for a variety of different reasons. Maintaining good nutrition can help children to feel well and maximise their potential.