This presentation will provide an overview of the importance of independent eating and drinking to those who struggle with performing these tasks. In the United States there are almost a million people, living in the community, who need assistance with feeding, or who must be fed. This number does not include those who live in nursing homes or other institutions. Despite the need for assistive technology to ameliorate this dependence few devices are commercially available.
Providing food to someone is a complex undertaking, whether performed by a person or a device. The range of food textures that must be handled (pureed, chopped, or typical table food), the bite size need for each individual, for each bite, and the seating and positioning constraints that must be accommodated for, are a few of the issues that must be considered when providing an individual with food. Research indicates that being fed by another person place the individual at a higher risk of choking and/or aspiration than when self-feeding. Therefore the need for equipment that can safely and reliably allow someone, who lacks the ability necessary to feed themselves in the traditional manner, to eat independently, is significant.
As with other assistive technologies, dining equipment needs to accommodate a diverse range of users. Age is a significant consideration, not only because the size of the person should be taken into account: a three year old child, versus a 200 pound man, but also their maturity, and life experience, will impact their understanding of self-feeding. Physical abilities, including stamina, have bearing upon access and control of assistive technology for dining. Intellectual abilities will also impacting the most appropriate method of access to dining equipment.
This presentation will include video footage illustrating how various equipment works, and also some examples of individuals using dining technology.
This program has been approved for 3 clock hours of continuing education credit by the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA). TSHA approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.