Kennedy Krieger Institute was established in 1987, aiming at helping both the caregiver and the parent to participate in learning on how to take care and treat the children affected with the feeding disorder. The program on feeding disorder by Kennedy Krieger was among the first to come up with the method of combining the study of disorders and the digestive system. (gastroenterology), Moreover, it was the first program with the therapeutic regime of the behavioral psychology involving the treatment of the children affected with the feeding disorder.
The institution targets children suffering from feeding disorder and educates the families of the children with the disorder on how to handle them. Moreover, it targets other people who might facilitate in giving the aid to children suffering from the disease example the nurses and the well-wishers.
The public should be aware of the new methods of addressing an
d solving issues of feeding disorder, moreover, the conditions that trigger the disorders such as the gastro esophageal reflux disease, food allergy, duodenitis, oral-motor dysfunction, delayed exposure to different types of food and behavior management elements (Greer, 2008). Mostly children between 1year and 12 years are victims hence caregivers should pay attention to them.
The Kennedy Krieger Institute also creates awareness and provides some teachings on the feeding disorder, whereby they offer referrals at early age hence aiming at the best result for any child and family members. They work on the core motto “Every child is born with great potential.”
In addition, the institute had a program that educates and trains caregivers about feeding disorder.
News release
Feeding Disorders Program
Most children affected by the feeding disorders does not eat food to their fullest either
in form of liquid or solid, for their healthy growth and gaining of the standard weight. In most cases, feeding disorder is experienced more in children than in adults. It is for this reason that Kennedy Krieger Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected with disorders of the spinal cord, brain as well as musculoskeletal systems through several programs.
Children affected by feeding disorder, take a little food, or they are selective when it comes to some types of food prepared. Moreover, some kids totally do not eat a particular kind of food or drinks that are essential for bodybuilding and proper development. (Garner, Olmstead, & Polivy, J. (1983). Today most offspring diagnosed with the feeding disorder are mostly at high risk of suffering from cognitive development, and their physical growth is retarded. In addition, children might suffer from some behavioral issues to the extent of failing to grow normally and thrive well. Severe effects may make the victim feel isolated, and their family may strain financially as they struggle to take care of them (Greer, 2008).
There are various types of feeding disorders, difficulties in taking and swallowing of different food textures, refuse to eat certain food groups, negative attitudes and throwing tantrums during mealtimes, and totally refuse to take the particular type of foods, vomiting or choking as they eat and having some nasogastric and gastrostomy dependence.
In most cases, the feeding disorder is caused by multiple factors that come together. For example, Mostly the feeding disorder is initiated by the combination of the psychological condition and medical defects.
The majority of children are suffering from feeding disorders, and it is said that in
every four kids one has the problem. When the condition is not realized and treated early, the family may incur some expenses as they undertake treatment (Spitzer, 1993). Over many years, various institutions have tried to come up with methods of treating the feeding disorder but only a few who have managed to offer the solution.
Many institutes have tried to describe and educate individuals about the feeding disorder. They describe the disorder in various ways for example by analyzing the behavior of the child. Besides, they examine any other condition that might have triggered the disorder. Further, they work on ways of increasing the way one feeds and reduction of any acts that might reduce the feeding habit. Moreover, they look at various forms of treating any other disease that might be a contributing factor to the poor feeding practice. Finally, they offer extra services such as training the victim’s parents or guardian on how to handle their children in case they are suffering from feeding disorder. (Killen et.al, 1994).
Therefore, it is clear that whatever the institution has revealed about the disease is true and it can be successfully treated if the issue is detected in children at the early age. Moreover, within the few months of treatment accompanied by the counseling and behavioral regulations one can easily recover from the disease and start feeding normally (Manikam & Perman, 2000). Therefore, caregivers and parents should take training and visit the institution for more information about eating disorder.
By educating, the caregiver and the parent about the disease the institution will be in a position of creating awareness about the disease. In the process, the world will
be in a better place and children will be able to survive and live well without any form of isolation.
Most organization such as the Kennedy Krieger Institute have tried to fight the disorder although they charge a lot hence making some families strain in raising the capital required for the training and treatment. Therefore, the institute should lower the costs to facilitate all families with the children with feeding disorder to access the treatment.
The government agencies, non-governmental organization, and the individuals should come together and create awareness to the citizen about the disorder hence facilitating in fighting the disease
Therefore, it is the high time for individuals, government, and the community to come together and fight against feeding disorder. Moreover, to facilitate in lowering the cost incurred in fighting the disorder.
REFERNCES
- Garner, D. M., Olmstead, M. P., & Polivy, J. (1983). Development and validation of a multidimensional eating disorder inventory for anorexia nervosa and bulimia. International journal of eating disorders, 2(2), 15-34.
- Greer, A. J., Gulotta, C. S., Masler, E. A., & Laud, R. B. (2008). Caregiver stress and outcomes of children with pediatric feeding disorders treated in an intensive interdisciplinary program. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 33(6), 612-620.
- Killen, J. D., Taylor, C. B., Hayward, C., Wilson, D. M., Haydel, K. F., Hammer, L. D., ... & Kraemer, H. (1994). Pursuit of thinness and onset of eating disorder symptoms in a community sample of adolescent girls: A three?year prospective analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 16(3), 227-238.
- Manikam, R., & Perman, J. A. (2000). Pediatric feeding disorders. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 30(1), 34-46.
- Spitzer, R. L. (1993). Binge eating disorder: its further validation in a multisite study. International Journal of Eating
Disorders, 13(2), 137-153.
