Emily Hall Feeding Coaching

Services

My feeding coach: Assessment of oral motor and musculoskeletal system related to eating and parent support for programs to address feeding difficulties such as:

• Inability to eat
• Inadequate food consumption
• Paediatric Feeding Disorder or Failure to Thrive
• Difficulty swallowing milk or formula
• Gagging on bottles or nipples
• “Oral aversion” or “sensory defensiveness” to food, toothbrushes, or drink
• Struggling with the introduction of solids
• Support for tube weaning
• Lost feeding skills following a neurological event, such as a stroke or seizure
• Families looking for a completely different approach to eating difficulties

My daughter was diagnosed with a rare type of epilepsy at four months old. She is now nine years old; it has been a long journey throughout these years. She is nonverbal and quadriplegic. She has seen countless specialists and has done all types of therapies. We started seeing Emily virtually about a month ago. It has been so amazing to work with Emily. She explains everything so clearly, sends pictures and is always available for questions. After about a month, our daughter has been smiling more, making better eye contact, holding her own bottle (for the first time in 4-5years), being more responsive, stronger (with better balance and control). We are so happy and excited to be working with Emily.
Lily 20/9/22

Our teenage son has complex medical needs and has had significant issues for many years. He has complex communication needs but has told us that with Emily’s treatment he feels less pain and tells us that his body feels better after sessions. We have observed a change in his posture, overall mood, and an increase in his self-help skills. He has worked with Emily for over a year, and he always looks forward to sessions and has begun to be able to communicate to us where he would like us to massage and do treatment. We are grateful to her for the incredible work she is doing!
Rebecca. 15/3/21

Miguel is 15. He was born blind, diagnosed with Autism at 71/2 and epilepsy at 14. There are many other diagnoses, including Anxiety. After the third treatment (with Emily) I started to see significant changes and improvements (in Miguel). He was less anxious, able to sit quietly for long periods without any disruptive or inappropriate behaviours. He started tolerating auditory input, like emergency alarms. He used his Brailler for a solid hour. His eye which normally remained close, started to open up. Others, including his dad, friends, teachers, and therapists observed more calmness and less anxiety or inappropriate tendencies. He was able to stop using his anxiety medication.

We have used many forms of therapies, past and present-OT, PT, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, horseback riding, Music, SLP, massage, ABA, natural supplements, and essential oils, but Emily is Extraordinary!! Knowledgeable, caring, dedicated, PATIENT, and always ready to come to the rescue. I feel fortunate and have recommended her treatments to other families.

Patricia and Miguel J. 10/15/19

As an SLP with over twenty years’ experience I have worked with many excellent clinicians. I immediately knew when I met Emily that she was uniquely gifted in her practice. She helps children make significant progress, teaches the family to implement the strategies and truly cares about making their lives better. When Emily is on the team, I know there will be consistent progress and growth!

Rebecca S. 5/18/20

Adeline ate birthday cake at her first birthday party; however, months earlier, her mother worried Adeline would never eat birthday cake.

Her feeding journey started just days after she was born when a heart condition and an unsafe swallow were identified while she was in the hospital. She was NG or NJ tube fed at that point.

At 6month old her parents had exhausted all medical and therapy services offered in the public system and had private Occupational Therapy, but she was still exclusively NG-tube fed, she was not consistently rolling, sitting up, or using her hands. She cried much of the day every day and was very difficult to soothe. She was very constipated. Her parents were exhausted.

She was referred to My Feeding Coach, and after a consultation with Emily, Adeline’s Mum decided Coaching was just what they needed. They meet online with Emily 1-2 times per week. In each session they talked about Adeline’s movement and basic routines, like sleeping and bowel movements. During sessions Emily taught Mum massages, exercises, taping and acupressure to help relieve pain, regulate Adeline’s bowels, and improve her posture.

After 2 months of Coaching, Adeline was a much happier baby. Her bowels were regular. She cried minimally during the day. Coaching started to focus more on eating and movement skills. She started showing interest in food and better coordination for small tastes of food. The family requested a new swallow study, and the medical team was consulted for increasing Adeline’s food and water intake. She got a G-Tube. She was still having some trouble coordinating a swallow, but her skills were improving. Adeline had coached once a week either individually or in an oral motor skill group.

After 6 months of coaching, when Adeline was 1year old, she was able to safely feed herself a slice of her birthday cake. She drank 50ml of water from a cup without coughing. She was crawling, pulling to stand, she could entertain herself with toys, she could say a few words like “mumma” and “dadda”, she showed understanding of both English and French words.

Paediatric Feeding Disorders: Do Acupuncturists have a role?