Why Is Early Intervention Feeding Therapy So Important for Children?

A Collaborative, Child-Centered Approach

At MetroEHS, therapists from various disciplines—speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA)—collaborate to address the diverse needs of each child. This team-based approach ensures that therapy is cohesive and comprehensive, promoting optimal outcomes.

Dr. Vira Francis, a speech-language pathologist at the West Bloomfield location, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration:

“When we’re using a collaborative and holistic approach with children, it’s like each team member is a puzzle piece. We really make that impact when we all come together to make the big picture, and it really helps to prioritize the child’s needs.”

Services Offered

MetroEHS provides a wide array of pediatric therapy services, including:

• Speech Therapy: Addressing communication challenges, articulation, language development, and literacy skills.
• Occupational Therapy: Focusing on daily living skills such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, play, social participation, and school readiness.
• Physical Therapy: Enhancing gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and strength to support functional movement and participation in activities.
• ABA Therapy: Utilizing evidence-based strategies to improve socially significant behaviors in children with autism and other developmental disorders.

Each therapy session is designed to be engaging and child-led, incorporating play-based methods to make therapy enjoyable and effective.

Creating a Stimulating Environment

The West Bloomfield center is intentionally designed to be colorful and kid-friendly, providing a stimulating environment that encourages active participation. Therapists tailor activities to each child’s interests and sensory needs, ensuring that therapy sessions are both fun and beneficial.

Empowering Families

MetroEHS is committed to not only supporting children but also empowering parents and caregivers. By providing education and resources, they enable families to reinforce therapy goals at home and advocate effectively for their children’s needs.

What is the Intensive Feeding Therapy Program Like at MetroEHS?

As we dive into the details of the Intensive Feeding Therapy Program at MetroEHS, hear from the experts at MetroEHS and how they collaborate on the most wholistic approach to Intensive Feeding Therapy.

Jessica Hunt (Occupational Therapist/Feeding Specialist):
When it comes to treating children who have complex feeding difficulties and pediatric feeding issues, there's a multitude of things that are typically at the root of the problem. So what's very unique about the program that we have here is that we have involvement from both occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, a dietician, as well as psychology.

Rose Britt (Registered Dietitian):
So it's all five disciplines. Spending time together with the family, with the patient, with each other, all talking at one cohesive time, making a plan instead of grabbing pieces from all over the place and putting them together. I think it makes it a lot smoother for us and the families as well.

Kris Krajewski (Director PT, OT, and Speech Services/SLP):
Each of our disciplines really does have something to offer to this process, but when we work all together, we have the ability to help our kiddos make more progress more quickly.

Kayla Daniels (Physical Therapist):
At Metro, we really take a whole body approach. We don't just look at one aspect of the child. And a lot of people don't think of physical therapy as part of the feeding team, but in order to eat, you have to use all of these posture and muscles, you have to hold yourself up. You have to hold your head up to be able to swallow. So really focusing on all of those aspects of your body is really important to be able to make the progress.

Azari Haygood (Psychologist):
As a psychologist on staff for the Intensive Feeding Program, I offer mental health services to the families and to some of the clients. It's very stressful for a lot of these families. It's stressful for the clients that we see. And so, I offer just another support for them, where I'm helping them kind of overcome some of the stressors that they're experiencing around feeding.

Rose Britt (Registered Dietitian):
It's not just me telling you what to do. There's so much more going into that, and you get to really listen to the families and hear why it's not working and problem solve together.

Kayla Daniels (Physical Therapist):
The impact you can make, not only on the child's life, but on the family's life as a whole is huge.

Azari Haygood (Psychologist):
Seeing that improvement in their family's lives feels really great all around.

Jessica Hunt (Occupational Therapist/Feeding Specialist):
One in 23 children have a pediatric feeding issue. And so, to truly be able to address all of the aspects of that in one place, that's where we get to make a difference every single day.

Kris Krajewski (Director PT, OT, and Speech Services/SLP):
It's like when you have a jigsaw puzzle and you're missing one piece, you can still tell what the picture of the jigsaw puzzle is going to be, but when you have all of the pieces together, integrated into this treatment, the result is just something so much more beautiful.

If you've searched online for information about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), you've probably seen conflicting opinions.

Some families describe ABA as life-changing. Others have questions after reading recent news stories or social media discussions about the field.

At MetroEHS, we believe parents deserve clear, honest information.

What Is ABA Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based therapy that helps children develop skills that improve their daily lives.

Depending on a child's needs, ABA may focus on:

• Communication
• Social interaction
• Play skills
• Safety awareness
• Emotional regulation
• Independence
• Daily living skills

The goal of ABA is not to change who a child is.

The goal is to help children gain skills that allow them to communicate, participate in their communities, and live as independently as possible.

Why Has ABA Received Negative Press?

Recent media coverage has raised concerns about billing practices and quality issues within parts of the industry.

Like any healthcare field, there have been instances where providers failed to meet professional standards.

However, these stories often fail to distinguish between unethical providers and the thousands of clinicians who deliver ethical, evidence-based care every day.

Families should know that poor practice is not the same thing as ABA itself.

What Does High-Quality ABA Look Like?

High-quality ABA is:

💥 Individualized

Every child receives goals based on their unique strengths, needs, interests, and family priorities.

💥 Data-Driven

Clinicians continuously measure progress and adjust treatment plans based on results.

💥 Family-Centered

Parents are active members of the treatment team.

💥 Play-Based

Modern ABA often incorporates games, preferred activities, peer interactions, and natural learning opportunities.

💥 Focused on Meaningful Outcomes and Success!

Success isn't measured by how many hours a child receives.

Success is measured by improvements in communication, safety, independence, social participation, and quality of life.

A discharge plan should always be discussed in any therapeutic service. ABA shouldn’t be a life-sentence for anyone. Make sure that you have a discharge plan in place from the moment you begin therapy.

Is ABA Regulated?

Yes.

ABA is one of the most highly regulated autism services available. Treatment plans require clinical oversight, supervision by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), ongoing documentation, ethical standards, and regular review processes.

Quality providers continuously evaluate progress and reduce or discontinue services when goals have been achieved.

What Should Parents Look For?

When evaluating an ABA provider, ask:

• How are goals selected?
• How is progress measured?
• How often does the BCBA supervise treatment?
• How are parents involved?
• How does the provider collaborate with other therapists?

The best providers welcome these conversations.

Why MetroEHS Believes in Integrated Care

💥 Children do not develop skills in isolation.

💥 Communication affects behavior.

💥 Sensory processing affects communication.

💥 Motor skills affect participation.

That is why MetroEHS brings together ABA, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy under one collaborative, clinically integrated, model.

When therapists utilize clinical integration, children benefit from coordinated goals, shared expertise, and a more complete understanding of their needs.

The Bottom Line

Parents should absolutely ask questions about ABA.

They should expect ethical care, measurable outcomes, and meaningful progress.

But families should also know that ABA remains one of the most extensively researched and evidence-based interventions available for many children with autism when delivered appropriately.

The conversation should not be whether ABA is good or bad.

The conversation should be: What does high-quality ABA look like, and how do we ensure every family has access to it?

At MetroEHS, we believe children deserve individualized, compassionate, evidence-based care that celebrates who they are while helping them build the skills they need to thrive.

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