The Informed SLP

Even experienced pediatric feeding SLPs may sometimes feel a little lost when it comes to supporting parents and kids in navigating solid food introduction.

Our research review “Trekking through textures: Mapping out the developmental progression of food textures” discusses Delaney and team’s proposed Developmental Texture Framework for Food Texture Progression. We can use this new tool flexibly across assessment, intervention, and parent education to:

-Identify solids by 5 major categories (with 3 subcategories in each!),

-Individualize therapy to support multiple skills simultaneously,

-Investigate whether a kid is showing a lack of skills versus a lack of opportunities to learn

-Introduce a new way to teach parents about how new feeders experience different textures.

Check out our review, download our printable reference table on using it, and earn CE credit at https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/Trekking-through-textures-Mapping-out-the-developmental-progression-of-food-textures

The research: https://doi.org/10.1111/jtxs.70026

[Visual description: Image text reads, "Starting solids doesn’t have to feel like hiking without a map." Cartoon image of a mountain hiking scene used as a metaphor for feeding development. At the base of the mountain, a group of two adults and a child look at a trail sign labeled “Mt. Starting Solids,” which outlines early feeding stages like liquids, purées, mashed solids, chewable solids, and combo foods. A winding path leads up the mountain, with labels marking gradual progression in both texture and consistency from thin and thickened liquids to purées of varying thickness, then fork-mashed, coarse, and chunky textures, followed by easily dissolvable, soft, and firm solids, and finally liquids and solids, puree and solids, and 2+ solids.]

This past month was a wild one for the staff at TISLP with our 10-year anniversary celebrations and our first-ever TISLP conference. It was such a treat to spend time learning, thinking, and dreaming with you!

We still created a full set of reviews for you, with lots to learn and plenty of minutes to keep you chugging along on your CE Challenge goals.

Visit https://www.theinformedslp.com/reviews to read this month's reviews and to join our annual CE Challenge (or check out your progress).

[Image Description: A cartoon of SLPs reading The Informed SLP's research reviews on a phone, iPad, and laptop. Image text reads, "June's new reviews are here! Swipe to see what's new in our evidence database this month. For pediatric SLPs: AAC device refusal and what it may actually mean, speech sound apps, and whether kids can actually make gains with them, automatic speech recognition systems and what they can (and can’t) do for us, story retelling intervention for DHH kids (both mono- and bilingual), and trauma and language outcomes. For pediatric medical: How (and whether) to use the free water protocol with kids, supporting kids with retrograde cricopharyngeal disorder, working with families of kids with complex medical needs in early intervention, trauma and language outcomes (this one is worth a second mention!). For adult SLPs: The most common respiratory diagnoses and dysphagia that accompanies them, ethical principles and dysphagia practice, FEES, FEES, FEES: Our brand new starter kit, A step-by-step guide to start your own program, tips to reduce discomfort when completing FEES is a literal pain in our necks. And for all SLPs working with adults: Understanding gender incongruence, voice, identity and our role in supporting TGD clients, naming assessment and intervention for people with TBIs, Involving autistic adults and teens in designing their own assistive tools (and why the benefits exceed the tools themselves). We’ve got so much science to share this month. And up to 166 minutes for your CE Challenge! Catch us at our link in bio."]