Learn a step-by-step approach for helping children explore food, enjoy eating, and participate joyfully and independently in social mealtimes. The AEIOU approach- acceptance, exposure, independence, observation and understanding is a responsive feeding approach that offers a highly successful method for integrated treatment of infants and young children with mild to complex etiologies. Learn to meet families where they are, provide effective family coaching and parent training, and make progress! Participants will leave with extensive knowledge, resources, and practical information: improve quality of mealtime, manage tube dependency and transition to eating solid foods, treat sensory food aversions, improve oral-motor skills, and more. Participants will be well equipped to help families achieve home carryover. Many special populations are discussed, including: prematurity, GERD, allergies, autism, failure to thrive, tracheostomy, picky eaters, tongue and lip ties, and children with various syndromes. This course is presented in a hybrid online format with live sessions with the instructor and self-paced video learning modules, in an interactive learning environment, using case studies and videos to engage and instruct participants. Bonus learning modules and downloads are included along with the comprehensive course manual, as well a private online course community during the course.
AEIOU: An Integrated Approach to Pediatric Feeding – 20-Hour Comprehensive Professional Training Program
Learn a step-by-step approach for helping children explore food, enjoy eating, and participate independently in social mealtimes. The AEIOU approach- acceptance, exposure, independence, observation and understanding – is a responsive feeding approach that offers a highly successful method for integrated treatment of infants and young children with mild to complex etiologies.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Develop assessment and treatment strategies that integrate 5 management factors for biomedical and enviro-behavioral influences that limit successful feeding in infants and young children.
- Formulate strategies to achieve parent buy-in for home carryover, promote positive parent-child interaction, and help children participate independently in social mealtime routines.
- Identify contraindications for oral feeding and describe a 5-step treatment plan for advancing pre-feeding skills in non-oral feeders.
- Assess signs of distress and/or disengagement during feeding.
- Develop and implement treatment plans for oral feeding that expand taste repertoire and texture acceptance by incorporating strategies for the mealtime environment, seating/positioning, and oral-motor, sensory, and motor deficits.
Agenda:
Hybrid Live Online and Self-Paced Recorded Modules20 Hours Total (10 hours live excluding breaks; 10 hours Self-Paced Online)
3 Live Broadcast Sessions (one per week) with self-paced video modules in between; Participants must attend each live broadcast session; Private course community and instructor support throughout the course; Includes BONUS handouts/materials and comprehensive course manual with references and resources
Time Ordered Agenda:
Duration | Topic |
---|---|
Week 1 Live Broadcast Online (3 ¾ hours; includes 15-minute break) | |
60 min | Foundations and Introduction to AEIOU; Support from the Literature |
60 min | Developmental Progression of Feeding Skills |
15 min | Break |
60 min | Case Reviews/Videos: Assessment and Treatment Planning |
30 min | Applying the 5 Factors (Acceptance, Exposure, Independence, Observation and Understanding) |
Week 1 Self-Paced Video Modules (4 ½ hours Total) | |
5 min | Review of Chewing |
14 min | Hands-On Exercise |
100 min | Factors that Limit Successful Feeding |
Prematurity, Respiratory/Cardiac Issues, Medication Effects (15 min) | |
Craniofacial Issues, Tongue/Lip Ties (31 min) | |
Gastrointestinal Issues Part 1 (14 min) | |
Gastrointestinal Issues Part 2 (21 min) | |
Allergy and Food Intolerance Issues (9 min) | |
Environmental Issues and Stress (10 min) | |
25 min | When to Treat: Priorities and Contraindications |
17 min | How to Treat: The 5-Step Comprehensive Plan |
25 min | Attachment, Communication, Control |
35 min | Addressing Mealtime Interactions & Behavior; Caregiver Buy-in and Effective Parent Training |
49 min | Establishing the Mealtime Environment: Merry Mealtime Guide™ |
Week 2 Live Broadcast Online (3 ½ hours; includes 15-minute break) | |
90 min | Therapy Meals; Video Presentation of Treatment; Introduction to Sensory Food Aversion |
45 min | Group Discussion/Question & Answer |
15 min | Break |
60 min | Treating the Whole Child; Family Centered Care |
Week 2 Self-Paced Video Modules (3 ½ hours Total) | |
10 min | Parent Testimonial Video |
44 min | Seating/Positioning/Self-Feeding: Achieving Autonomy and Independence |
30 min | Sensory Processing/Food Exploration |
40 min | Expanding Taste Repertoire and Texture Acceptance |
39 min | Nutritional Issues: Weight Gain vs. Brain Gain |
15 min | Tube Weaning Case Study |
32 min | Oral-Motor Treatment: Achieving Success in 5 Steps |
Week 3 Live Broadcast Online (3 ½ hours; includes 15-minute break) | |
120 min | Video Presentations of Treatment/Case Studies: Sensory Food Aversion, Oral-Motor, Tube-Weaning |
15 min | Break |
30 min | Video Presentations Con’t |
45 min | Problem Solving, Group Discussion, Question and Answer |
Week 3 Self-Paced Videos Modules/Bonus Materials (2 hours Total) | |
31 min | Cups and Straws |
49 min | Tricks With Tools: Tips From My Toolbox, Resources, and More |
40 min | Bonus Downloads, Extend Your Learning Modules |
Total Duration for CEUs:
20 hours.About the Presenter:

Disclosures:
Presenter Disclosures:
Financial: I have no relevant financial relationships in the products or services described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in this presentation. I receive a speaking fee for presenting this course.Non-Financial: I have no relevant non-financial relationships in the products or services described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in this presentation.
Content Disclosure:
This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.Target Audience:
SLPs, OTs, PTs, Assistants, Educators. Appropriate for other professionals (social workers, nurses, dieticians, etc.) working with infants and young children with feeding problems.Required for course completion:
- Registration and payment in full
- Record of attendance on sign-in/sign-out page with signature times noted.
- Assessment of learner outcomes via course evaluation form at completion of course
- Attestation to your full attendance of the course and completion of all requirements
Available Continuing Education Credits:
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![]() Introductory level 2.0 ASHA CEUs ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures. |
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