Don't Miss It: Why Speech Kids Also Need Feeding Screenings 🍽️
In this presentation, Hallie Bulkin argues that feeding concerns should be screened for within speech‑language pathology practice. She explains that children may present for speech services while also having unmet feeding needs, and without asking about meals these issues can go unnoticed. Bulkin clarifies that screening is a brief, early‑identification step that informs whether a full feeding assessment or a referral is needed, emphasizing that screening never replaces a comprehensive assessment. She calls for clinicians to become more adept at recognizing feeding red flags and for practices to develop the internal capacity to provide feeding services rather than repeatedly referring families elsewhere. Finally, she highlights the importance of understanding coding and reimbursement so that feeding care can be delivered sustainably, linking clinical conversations about need with pragmatic discussions about payment.
