In the blog post titled ‘Feeding Strategies’, the readers were introduced to the contents of an occupational therapist’s (OT) feeding toolkit, as taught in Melanie Potock’s course. The post provided practical strategies for parents and therapists to create positive mealtime experiences at home. Now, the focus shifts towards understanding whether a child may be an anxious eater.
To comprehend the concept of anxious eating, it is crucial to grasp the stacking model behind the development of feeding disorders, as outlined by Melanie Potock. This model takes into account the following factors:
- Physiology: This includes the functioning of the body and brain, encompassing aspects like cognition, emotional regulation, and sensory processing.
- Motor Skills: Both gross and fine motor skills play a role in feeding. Interestingly, oral skills are classified as fine motor skills.
- Learned Behaviors: Feeding disorders can arise from learned behaviors influenced by a child’s physiology or motor skills. For instance, a feeding disorder may develop following an instance of choking on a specific food item.
It is important to note the impact of the vicious cycle in a child’s relationship with food and how it subsequently affects the family dynamics. The child’s relationship with food influences the family’s behavior, which, in turn, impacts the overall family dynamic. This dynamic, in a cyclical manner, further affects family behavior, the family’s relationship with food, and ultimately the child’s relationship with food.
So, what characterizes an anxious eater? To begin, it is necessary to understand anxiety and its classification as a disorder. Anxiety is a natural response that keeps us safe and alerts us to potential dangers. However, when it becomes a disorder, it can result in functional impairment and unnecessary avoidance.
Signs and symptoms of an anxious eater may include the child’s inability to self-regulate, expressions of fear, and adamant refusal to participate in eating activities. Additionally, there are more subtle signs to be aware of, such as being easily distracted, talkative, exhibiting avoidance disguised as disinterest, emotional dysregulation seemingly unrelated to the situation, and displaying a desire for control or rigid behaviors.
Occupational therapists have the skill set to work with children who exhibit anxious eating behaviors. If a child’s reaction appears disproportionate to the situation or displays symptoms like consistent gagging, verbal and behavioral resistance to eating, avoidance at mealtimes, disinterest in trying new foods, resistance to sensory experiences related to food, or if the situation is causing stress for the child and family in various environments, it is recommended to seek the assistance of an OT.
If you would like your child to participate in mealtimes more confidently and become more adventurous eaters, please reach out to us at Occupational Therapy Helping Children on hello@occupationaltherapy.com.au or call our client service team on 02 9913 3823.
Reference: Potock, M. (2023, March). Your Feeding Tool Kit: Treating the Whole Child & the Whole Family. Professional Development Course presented for Sydney Speech Clinic, Sydney, Australia.
