Assessment
Assessment involves an information-gathering and evaluation phase that is ACTION orientated
- Analysis of any existing background information and reports pertinent to the child's feeding problem
- Consultation with other health professionals involved in the child’s care.
- Teleconsultation where necessary
- Information gathering on child’s current health status, growth pattern, development, nutrition etc
- Organisation of a multi-disciplinary meeting with parents and hospital/community health professionals involved in the child’s care
- Needs-led, ‘team around the child’ approach
Assessment Phase
- Home visit
- Clinical interview
- Full psychometric evaluation
- Direct and video observation of child’s behaviour at mealtime
- Assessment of the impact of the child’s feeding disorder on the family system
Analysis and Formulation
Information and data obtained during the preliminary ACTION and assessment phases are analysed and assimilated. A psychological formulation is drawn up which summarises this, providing an outline of causative / contributory factors, maintaining factors and treatment proposals suggested by the evidence.
Psychological Report
The ensuing psychological report provides the following:
- Summary of presenting problem and background context
- Assessment
- Psychological formulation
- Recommendations for treatment
- Treatment plan