A SWALLOW INDUCTION AVOIDANCE PROCEDURE TO ESTABLISH EATING

Swallow induction has been used to shape swallowing behavior in dyspha gic children and to accelerate swallowing in nondysphagic children wit h profound mental retardation who display primitive swallows. Swallow induction may be considered a type of prompt. This project coupled swa llow induction with a modified delayed prompting paradigm to establish eating in a 3.5-year-old girl. Coupling these procedures produced pro mpt swallowing and established oral consumption. Follow-ups at 1, 2, 6 and 12 months demonstrated maintenance and further improvement of the newly acquired feeding skills. Implications for treatment and further research are discussed.