SOS

SOS, or the Sensory Oral Sequential, is my preferred method of intervention for most children with oral-phase dysphagia. While this approach is designed to be delivered in a group setting, I do not yet have a large enough space to complete it in this manner. I use the SOS approach with you and your child in a private session. A group setting will be offered when I am able!

(pictured to the right is my son, Quintin, loving his food exploration)

What is SOS and why do I love it?

• SOS is child-directed, so there is NO FORCE FEEDING and NO COERCION involved in the therapy.
• It approaches feeding by first considering the physical, medical, nutritional, developmental, learning, environmental, oral motor, postural, and sensory factors involved in a child’s current eating abilities; plus, it helps you understand all of these facets about your child and why eating is hard for them.
• It follows an interaction hierarchy based on how your child responds to a food for each type of food introduced and goes at a pace your child is comfortable with and in control of so that therapy remains fun and is always at the just-right level for each food
• The interaction hierarchy is based on developmental norms for how children LEARN to eat, because eating is in fact a skill that is learned!
• It helps you understand how to approach meal times in a way that your child feels safe, in control, capable, and motivated to do.
• It is based on the understanding that the range of food a child is introduced to is significant to their long-term eating success, so foods are always varied and changing in a structured way that allows for exploration without being overwhelming.
• When a child participates in this program, it is FUN and relaxed. The skills they learn are real and they stick around in the long-term because there are no external motivators (e.g., take a bite and get a toy or take a bite and get to watch a video); instead, children start eating because they have either gained the skill they needed and previously lacked, have learned to trust foods that were previously overwhelming, or both. All at their own pace.

The SOS website has additional information you can view here if you would like to learn more or access some of their free resources!