Frustrated Mom Seeking Help

Hmmm. I understand your concern. Yes, both OTs and some Speech Paths do work on feeding issue - it just depends on if they have had training to do so. Speech is more than articulation of letters and sounds. It is hard to find "feeding specialists" in this area, meaning therapists who have had more than the little bit of training they get in college. As a mom with an infant with feeding issues, you want someone who is a specialist in that area and has had at least some extensive coursework in that field. Maybe your current OT has had further training and is doing a good job and progress is slow, maybe not. She may be a wonderful person and great therapist, but does she know how to advance a child to come off the feeding tube forever? Has she ever done this before? Does she have alot of experience with this sort of diagnosis? If not, then I agree with your desire to look elsewhere.
I would suggest calling Childrens Hospital of Michigan since they often have babies on feeding tubes inpatient, they should be familiar with it. I would ask for a therapist with advanced education on feeding issues. You could also call Beaumont Barnum Center facility on Coolidge Hwy. Detroit Medical Center satellite sites are also great with children - there is a facility in Novi and also in Warren on Schoenherr Rd. St. Johns used to have a pediatric center also. I would just keep interviewing and asking questions and hopefully you will find a name that comes up more than once.
You are a wise mom to think this through and look around. Again, I would press hard to get what you think your child needs. You are the expert with your child. You may find out that the therapy your child is getting is the best, or you may find someone else who can better meet his needs. Good Luck.

If I've done my arithmetic correctly, your baby has been home approximately a month. Unless the OT or doctor is telling you differently I suggest that you work on letting go of wanting faster improvement. This will take time. Denise gave you a very good description of the process.

A speech therapist does not deal with this sort of issue. Your baby is way to young to work on making sounds.

I sympathize with your frustration. You do have to rely on the specialists. If you don't trust either one of them, I suggest you talk with them about your reasons for lack of trust. If you feel that they are not hearing you, ask to change to a different person.

i cannot answer for babies but my dad had a feeding tube before he died and he couldn't eat what they told him to eat through the tube. they had to medicate him so he could eat more. I would suggest taking him to a doctor to see what needs to be done to increase his feeding. remeber his tummy isnt very big from being tube fed. he also has to get his throat muscles developed. most babies do that as soon as they are born. yours wasnt able too. and with tube feeding the food goes in slower than by throat. so it makes their tummy smaller. if he still has a feeding tube you may need to increase the flowof it to make him capable of drinking more faster (expand his tummy). I would find a pediatric stomach doctor for this one. definately communicate heavily with the occupational therapist your concerns to find out if it is a throat or stomach problem. could go either way on this one.

We see OT @ Pediatric Potentials, St. Clair Shores and both OTs have been REALLY helpful. I think they also have a speech path on staff too. We use this agency since our insurance won't cover OT and this is the most reasonable agency in the area!

With therapies, at least in our experience, it has been a slow road with many ups/downs. My son has a feeding tube (g-tube), but quite different circumstances from yours. He got his feeding tube this Feb and he's 33 months old. OT treatment has been awesome and we're always so grateful for their expertise. I know it's frustrating when it goes slowly, believe me I wish every day it would go more quickly and easily!! Good luck to you!

Have you contacted Early On. It is completely funded by tax dollars and run via the school systems. I had my son in the system, they do OT/PT and speech depending on what your child needs. They are amazing. Not sure of the number, your ped should have it or look up on line through MISD Early ON. They will come to your house and do a full assessment. I can't say enough great things. The best part is they will work with him until he goes to school so as he develops and matures his issues might change and they will adapt the therphy accordingly. Good Luck

Another thought, I used an OT from Childrens Hospital named Hilary. We saw her at the Madison Heights center. She is there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I thought she was great ###-###-####

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Have you contacted Early On. It is completely funded by tax dollars and run via the school systems. I had my son in the system, they do OT/PT and speech depending on what your child needs. They are amazing. Not sure of the number, your ped should have it or look up on line through MISD Early ON. They will come to your house and do a full assessment. I can't say enough great things. The best part is they will work with him until he goes to school so as he develops and matures his issues might change and they will adapt the therphy accordingly. Good Luck

I also had a preemie who took a long time to eat. I second the Early On/Early Intervention, but if you have someone coming to your house, you may have already done that. We saw an OT out of the Beaumont Pediatric Therapy group in West Bloomfield (Orchard Lake and 15 mile), Linda L. She is wonderful and has the special training/courses on feeding issues. One thing I know we did to help feedings with my little guy - because feedings did seem to take so long and were tiring for him - we switched to an orthodontic nipple on the bottle. It filled his mouth better and especially that high arch from being intubated. We also added small amounts of coconut oil to his milk (bought at Whole Foods and recommended by pediatrician) to add fat to help him gain weight and it is good for brain development. I'm sure you're doing a great job!

I highly recommend the staff in the outpatient rehab dept at Children's Hospital of Michigan. You'll need a referral from a doctor, perhaps one of theirs. They are wonderful and have lots of props to make it fun for babies as well as loving, happy therapists on staff, and they're very easy to work with. You can valet park cheaply and the area is quite safe, so don't be put off by it's being in Detroit. I'm sure U of M in A2 has the same services if you live closer to them.

i don't know were you live but if you live in macomb county call head start ###-###-####. they just started a program for birth to 5. thet come to the home and work with you and your chid one day a week i highly reccomend this program . if you don't live in macomb county contact your local school distr or the county intermediate district.

I took my son to Como Pediatric Communication Center in Troy, MI and I loved it. They made me, as a parent feel as though my concerns were valid, in addition to caring for my son and assessing his condition. I previously went to a different SLP and was not impressed with how it was just another "routine" for my child to be there and felt as though I was more educated than the SLP was. Then I found Como Pediatric Communication Center and was very impressed. Only problem is that they are self private pay there. Good luck with your son and your search.