Let's E.A.T.! Eating With Assistive Technology: Supporting Children With Feeding Tubes and Tracheostomies Through Virtual and In-Home Therapies

What this Trial Is About

This trial is studying an interdisciplinary approach to help children under 3 years old with feeding tubes and tracheostomies transition to oral feeding. The study evaluates whether combining in-home clinical assessments with virtual therapies by a specialized team can improve feeding outcomes. The goal is to increase oral feeding and reduce dependence on feeding tubes while supporting caregivers' confidence and reducing their worry about feeding. Participants are randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group receives weekly virtual group mealtime sessions plus biweekly individualized virtual therapies from a team including occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, registered dietitians, and a developmental behavioral pediatrician. The control group attends weekly virtual group mealtime sessions only. Both groups continue any existing standard care therapies. The study includes initial in-home assessments, ongoing virtual therapy sessions, and a final home visit after one year. Families will participate in enrollment via video conferencing, complete surveys, and take part in scheduled virtual therapy and group sessions over one year. Assessments of feeding, oral intake, caregiver confidence, and dietary history occur at baseline, 3, 6, 9 months, and at the final exit visit after 12 months. Researchers monitor changes in oral calorie intake, feeding frequency, and caregiver self-efficacy. Safety and progress are tracked through regular surveys and home visits during the study period.

Let's E.A.T.! (Eating With Assistive Technology): An Intervention to Support Children With Feeding Tubes and Tracheostomies