ABA-Based Feeding Therapy
Changing lives.
Mealtime Challenges? Get Your Questions Answered Today!
Feeding Therapy That Works.
Feeding Therapy and Feeding Intervention programs are developed for children who show signs of food selectivity and designed to expand their food repertoires, volume, texture, and other food-related problems. Picky eating can be cause for concern when children do not receive the nutrients they need to thrive.
Research shows that food selectivity often fails to resolve without intervention. Research indicates that the sooner an intervention can occur, the more likely good eating habits will be established and last. Our program incorporates family coordination and progress made in treatment is generalized to the home environment for an end goal of accepting a variety of food, eating together with the family, and increasing the overall nutritional value of meals.
What are the key identifiers of food selectivity?
- Limited variety of food
- Limited types of texture
- Not eating enough
- Gagging when given a new food
- Vomiting when given a new food
- Refusal of foods
- Inappropriate mealtime behavior
Collaboration in Action
Family coordination is incorporated and treatment is generalized to the home environment, for an end goal of accepting a variety of food, eating together with the family, and increasing the overall nutritional value of meals. Learn more about how family involvement in this therapy is crucial to the effectiveness of treatment.
Areas targeted within a feeding program:
- Expanding food and liquid variety
- Chewing
- Self-feeding
- Increasing Volume
- Use of utensils
- Reduction of vomiting
- Cup drinking
Meet Clinical Director, Ben Sarcia, MA, BCBA, LBA, BSL
I am a member of the International Association for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing (IAPFS), as well as a Ph D student in the field of Behavior Analysis. My passion for the treatment of feeding disorders was engendered in 2009 as a graduate intern when I interned at Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center (SPARC) in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After obtaining my certification in behavior analysis (BCBA) in 2014, I began working in the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Continuum at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. It was here that I was able to gain experience working with children with feeding disorders in an inpatient setting and I also was given the opportunity to conduct and publish research related to the treatment of food selectivity. In 2016 I joined the team at the Verbal Beginnings Center and since that time I have been able to serve families that perhaps otherwise would not have been able to participate in this type of therapy, given the demands of most treatment programs. I have had the opportunity to work with children from age 18 months to as old as 18 years, selective eaters to 100% feeding tube dependent, and even with children who had never learned how to chew.
Our team is eager to work with your child and family to develop lifelong healthy eating behavior!
About Verbal Beginnings
At Verbal Beginnings, we harness the transformative principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to unlock each child’s fullest potential. With personalized teaching strategies, our clinicians foster meaningful progress that positively impacts both the child and their family. We are dedicated to making a difference and providing every child the opportunity to thrive.
For over a decade, our commitment to changing lives and staying true to our core values has been the foundation of our success. As we expand, our unwavering dedication allows us to support even more incredible children and families, continuing to make a lasting impact with every step forward.
Changing lives. One Child at a Time. One Professional at a Time.
We Accept Most Major Insurance
A Commitment to Quality Care
Verbal Beginnings is an accredited provider of ABA therapy
Commitment to
Continuous Improvement
Verbal Beginnings Center, Social Beginnings by Verbal Beginnings, In-home: Maryland, In-home: Virginia, In-home: Pennsylvania
BHCOE Accredited
Training Site
Promoting Continuous
Learning
Dedication to
Safe Care
Compassionate Care Through
Effective Treatment
Commitment to Best Practices
Commitment to
Continuous Improvement
BHCOE Accredited
Training Site
Dedication to
Safe Care
Verbal Beginnings Center, Social Beginnings by Verbal Beginnings, In-home: Maryland, In-home: Virginia, In-home: Pennsylvania
Promoting Continuous
Learning
Compassionate Care Through
Effective Treatment
Commitment to
Best Practice
FAQ
What ages does Healthy Beginnings work with?
We work with children from age 18 months to 18 years. It’s never too late to develop healthy eating habits through proper nutrition.
What is the process like once we begin?
Initially, a BCBA will observe and collect data on the current mealtime behavior with both caregivers and therapists in order to identify any patterns and establish a baseline (what the behavior looks like before intervention). From there, therapists will feed your child utilizing the techniques supported by empirical literature in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. This often includes the use of reinforcement and strategies to reduce refusal at mealtime. Feeding staff have been given extensive training in all procedures and must complete specific competency assessments before they are allowed to conduct meal sessions.
Research has demonstrated with consistent intervention food refusal will decrease, and healthier eating behavior will increase. Throughout the feeding process, it is important to remember that refusal took time to emerge and thus, appropriate mealtime behavior will also take time to develop.
It is common for a child to respond differently to a therapist than they would respond to a caregiver, as they do not have a history with the feeding therapist. Therefore, caregiver training is an important component of any feeding therapy program.
It is important that your child be hungry prior to feeding sessions. Therefore, we request that you do not feed your child one hour before scheduled meals. It is also important to wait an hour before feeding your child after a meal session, even if the child did not eat during that session.
What is a feeding protocol and what will I need to do?
An individualized protocol will be developed for your child. This protocol includes specific instructions as to what to do during meals, as well as what not to do. It is very important that any caregivers feeding your child implement the protocol the same way each time and that only caregivers that have been trained are utilizing this protocol. For the child to be successful, it is very important that caregivers are adhering to the protocol and not making any changes without communicating with the Clinical Supervisor. Often times, there are multiple components to a mealtime treatment protocol. If one of the components is implemented incorrectly or changed prematurely, it is likely that the child will identify this, which could lead to the protocol becoming ineffective.
How do you measure progress?
Throughout treatment, data are collected and analyzed. Data collection enables us to determine how often bites are taken or refused and thus guide treatment decisions. We also collect data on treatment integrity (how well caregivers feeding the child implement the protocol) in order to determine if the protocol is being implemented correctly.
Does insurance cover feeding therapy?
If your insurance company covers ABA services for your child and your child has the ASD diagnosis, then the feeding program is covered. The feeding team will conduct an evaluation related to your child’s mealtime behavior. After a review of the results of this evaluation with the caregivers, the recommendations will be submitted to your insurance company as a request for ABA coverage for feeding therapy. The only cost to you is what your plans considers as patient responsibility. To check your plan benefits, click here.
Where is the feeding program located?
The Healthy Beginnings program operates out of our Columbia, MD center at 7090 Samuel Morse Dr. in the Columbia Gateway Drive business community. Parking is right at the front door and the feeding therapy wing is in our main building.