By Benjamin Sarcia, BCBA – Clinical Director of Healthy Beginnings
At Healthy Beginnings (HB), we recently worked with a second grader who was dealing with a challenging condition, rumination. Rumination is when someone voluntarily vomits after eating or drinking, and for parents, this can be very alarming. Not only can it make meals stressful, but it also makes daily activities like going to school or traveling more difficult. The child’s parents were eager to find a solution.
We conducted a careful assessment to figure out why this behavior was happening. What we discovered was eye-opening: the child, who couldn’t speak, was using rumination as a way to signal they were done eating. The parents had been spoon-feeding their child for years, and when rumination began, they would stop feeding immediately. Over time, the child learned that rumination worked as a form of communication—they vomited, and mealtime ended.
This realization gave us a clear path forward. To help the child, we needed to teach them how to communicate in a better way and give them more control over mealtimes.
The ABA Solution: Self-Feeding and Communication Skills
Our plan focused on two key areas: teaching the child how to feed themselves and helping them communicate when they were full without rumination.
First, we worked on self-feeding skills. By using utensils, the child gained more independence and could decide how much to eat. This gave them control over the process, reducing the need for rumination to signal they were done.
Second, we focused on teaching functional communication. Since the child couldn’t speak, we introduced alternative ways for them to express when they were full. This might include simple gestures, pictures, or other non-verbal cues. With these new communication tools, the child no longer needed to rely on rumination to end mealtimes.
Collaboration with Parents and School
A key part of the child’s progress came from involving both the parents and the child’s school. We provided training to the parents so they could continue working on self-feeding and communication at home. They learned how to support their child in practicing these new skills and reinforce positive behaviors.
We also worked closely with the child’s occupational therapist at school. This partnership ensured the child received consistent support for their self-feeding skills during school hours. The therapist helped maintain the child’s progress in a different environment, making the transition between home and school smoother.
The Outcome: A Healthy Beginning
As the child became more confident in their self-feeding abilities, rumination decreased significantly. They were now able to eat independently, communicate when they were full, and enjoy mealtimes without distress. This progress not only improved the child’s quality of life but also provided relief for the family, who no longer had to worry about every meal turning into a stressful event.
This case shows the powerful impact of ABA in helping children overcome challenging behaviors and develop essential life skills. At Healthy Beginnings, we are dedicated to providing the support children need to overcome feeding challenges like rumination so they can thrive at home, in school, and beyond.
Interested in learning more about our flexible day programs? Reach out to our Care Coordinators today at begin@verbalbeginnings.com.
