Team Intervention in Food Selectivity in a Medically Complex Child in Rural Appalachia

• Published in: Occupational therapy in health care 2009, Vol.23 (3), p.207-225
• Main Authors: Cronin, Anne Frances, Poe, Susannah Grimm, Ruscello, Dennis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Appalachian culture; clinical reasoning; food selectivity
• ISSN: 0738-0577; 1541-3098
• DOI: 10.1080/07380570902976767

"Food selective" is the term used to describe children who eat an unusually limited variety and/or amount of foods and often have serious medical problems that inhibit the normal development of eating. While many urban areas have programs to address these complex eating problems, families in rural areas must rely on sometimes fragmented local resources. This paper describes how a university-based interdisciplinary team of professionals employ a reasoning process during the assessment and intervention with a child with food selectivity in manner supportive of prevailing Appalachian cultural beliefs and values. Issues of this model for occupational therapy is discussed using occupation-based culturally sensitive reasoning and intervention strategies when responding to illustrate the complex interaction of sensory processing and participation in daily occupations modeled in this case report.