SOS Feeding Approach
Sequential-Oral-Sensory approach for pediatric feeding disorders. Feasibility studies positive. Lacks RCT evidence; widely used in pediatric feeding clinics.
Clinical practice reports positive; formal comparative studies vs standard feeding therapy absent.
Applicable in pediatric feeding programs; relevant for SLP and OT in pediatric medical and school settings.
Billed under feeding therapy SLP/OT codes; certification supports medical necessity documentation; commercial and Medicaid coverage apply.
2-day workshop; moderate cost; accessible to SLP and OT practitioners.
Moderate employer demand in pediatric feeding programs and feeding specialty clinics.
Family-centered, non-coercive approach reduces mealtime anxiety for families.
Parents of picky/ARFID kids routinely pay cash when insurance won't cover feeding therapy; strong direct-pay market.
Specialized feeding clinics command premium rates and often have waitlists.
Named brand approach with limited certified provider pool; strong differentiation in pediatric markets.
Multiple trained SLPs/OTs can deliver SOS within a clinic; genuinely scalable to a multi-clinician practice.
Growing parent awareness via social media and pediatrician referrals, though still niche.
Reasonable course-based training (8-day conference + mentorship); accessible compared to multi-year credentials.
Recognized in pediatric SLP/OT academic circles but not a board specialty; moderate hiring signal for peds faculty.
Some published outcomes work but evidence base is debated; modest scholarly output.
Directly applicable to pediatric feeding coursework in SLP and OT programs.
Evidence is largely program-developer driven with limited independent RCTs.
Occasionally preferred for pediatric SLP/OT faculty positions, especially with feeding clinic affiliations.
Relatively quick to obtain compared to residencies, with decent academic payoff in peds programs.
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- 01DOI ↗Methodological Components for Evaluating Intervention Effectiveness of SOS Feeding Approach: A Feasibility StudyS. A. Schoen; R. Balderrama; E. Dopheide; A. Harris; L. Hoffman; S. Sasse · Children (Basel) · 2025Pilot/feasibilitydoi:10.3390/children12030373
- 02DOI ↗Enhancing Pediatric Feeding Disorders Assessment and Management Through the Sequential Oral Sensory ApproachD. T. Mohamed; E. M. Mahfouz · Journal of High Institute of Public Health · 2025doi:10.21608/jhiph.2025.436158
- 03DOI ↗Picky eating in children: Current clinical trends, practices, and observations within the Australian health-care contextL. B. Chilman; P. J. Meredith; A. Kennedy-Behr; G. Campbell; T. Frakking; L. Swanepoel; M. Verdonck · Aust Occup Ther J · 2023Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1111/1440-1630.12869
- 04DOI ↗The effectiveness of oral sensorimotor intervention in children with feeding disordersL. Voniati; A. Papaleontiou; R. Georgiou; D. Tafiadis · Current Developmental Disorders Reports · 2021doi:10.1007/s40474-021-00236-y
- 05DOI ↗The distance between empirically supported treatment and actual practice for paediatric feeding problems: An international clinical perspectiveS. A. Taylor; T. Taylor · International Journal of Child & Adolescent Health · 2021Narrative review
- 06DOI ↗Sensory Based Feeding Intervention for Toddlers With Food Refusal: A Randomized Controlled TrialA. R. Kim; J. Y. Kwon; S. H. Yi; E. H. Kim · Ann Rehabil Med · 2021RCTdoi:10.5535/arm.21076
- 07DOI ↗Tactile Play and Oral Acceptance of Wet Food ItemsJ. M. Hawkins; J. Ferringer; E. Grambo; H. Murkens; J. Smith; E. Scifo · The American Journal of Occupational Therapy · 2021doi:10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-PO127
- 08DOI ↗The Impact of Tactile Play on Increasing Oral Acceptance of Wet Food ItemsJ. Hawkins; B. Burnett; J. Corello; K. Heath; A. Schmidt; C. Scott; D. Prier; A. Ishman · The American Journal of Occupational Therapy · 2020doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.74S1-PO1129
- 09DOI ↗Feeding difficulties in children with non-IgE-mediated food allergic gastrointestinal disordersM. Chehade; R. Meyer; A. Beauregard · Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol · 2019Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.anai.2019.03.020
- 10DOI ↗Food Selectivity and Sensitivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review Defining the Issue and Evaluating InterventionsG. Reinoso; B. Carsone; S. Weldon; J. Powers; N. B. lore · New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy · 2018Systematic review
- 11DOI ↗A comparison of a modified sequential oral sensory approach to an applied behavior-analytic approach in the treatment of food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorderK. M. Peterson; C. C. Piazza; V. M. Volkert · J Appl Behav Anal · 2016RCTdoi:10.1002/jaba.332
- 12DOI ↗ARFID-Strategies for Dietary Management in ChildrenA. Białek-Dratwa; D. Szymańska; M. Grajek; K. Krupa-Kotara; E. Szczepańska; O. Kowalski · Nutrients · 2022Narrative reviewdoi:10.3390/nu14091739
- 13DOI ↗Food Selectivity in Children with Autism: Guidelines for Assessment and Clinical InterventionsM. Esposito; P. Mirizzi; R. Fadda; C. Pirollo; O. Ricciardi; M. Mazza; M. Valenti · Int J Environ Res Public Health · 2023Clinical guidelinedoi:10.3390/ijerph20065092
- 14DOI ↗Sensory processing and eating behaviours in autism: A systematic reviewE. Nimbley; L. Golds; H. Sharpe; K. Gillespie-Smith; F. Duffy · Eur Eat Disord Rev · 2022Systematic reviewdoi:10.1002/erv.2920
- 15DOI ↗A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Psychological Therapies for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Adolescents and AdultsC. G. Winten; E. Strodl; P. E. Kambanis; L. J. Ross; J. J. Thomas · Int J Eat Disord · 2026Meta-analysisdoi:10.1002/eat.70086
- 16DOI ↗Food chaining: a systematic approach for the treatment of children with feeding aversionM. Fishbein; S. Cox; C. Swenny; C. Mogren; L. Walbert; C. Fraker · Nutr Clin Pract · 2006doi:10.1177/0115426506021002182
- 17DOI ↗On the efficacy and efficiency of treating pediatric feeding disorderV. Scott; V. Saini; M. Totino · J Appl Behav Anal · 2024Meta-analysisdoi:10.1002/jaba.2912
- 18DOI ↗Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and severe food selectivity in children and young people with autism: A scoping reviewL. Bourne; W. Mandy; R. Bryant-Waugh · Dev Med Child Neurol · 2022Systematic reviewdoi:10.1111/dmcn.15139
- 19DOI ↗A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intensive Multidisciplinary Intervention for Pediatric Feeding Disorders: How Standard Is the Standard of Care?W. G. Sharp; V. M. Volkert; L. Scahill; C. E. McCracken; B. McElhanon · J Pediatr · 2017Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.10.002
- 20DOI ↗Decoding Picky Eating in Children: A Temporary Phase or a Hidden Health Concern?D. Pjetraj; A. Pjetraj; D. Sayed; M. Severini; L. Falcioni; L. E. Svarca; S. Gatti; M. E. Lionetti · Nutrients · 2025Narrative reviewdoi:10.3390/nu17243884
- 21DOI ↗Efficacy of interventions to improve feeding difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysisJ. Marshall; R. Ware; J. Ziviani; R. J. Hill; P. Dodrill · Child Care Health Dev · 2015Meta-analysisdoi:10.1111/cch.12157
- 22DOI ↗Neonatal Therapy Interventions Supporting Oral Feeding Skills in Preterm Infants: A Systematic ReviewK. Vetter; C. Fernandes; T. T. Nguyen · Phys Occup Ther Pediatr · 2026Systematic reviewdoi:10.1080/01942638.2025.2562931
- 23DOI ↗Caregiver Experiences of Intervention for Paediatric Feeding Disorder: A Scoping ReviewM. Wong; R. L. Packer; V. Gent; J. Marshall · Acta Paediatr · 2026Systematic reviewdoi:10.1111/apa.70675
- 24DOI ↗Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in Swedish preschool children: a screening studyL. Dinkler; K. Brimo; H. Holmäng; K. Yasumitsu-Lovell; R. Kuja-Halkola; A. K. Kantzer; Z. Omanovic; N. Suganuma; M. Eitoku; M. Fujieda; E. Fernell; P. Möllborg; R. Bryant-Waugh; C. Gillberg; M. Råstam · J Eat Disord · 2025doi:10.1186/s40337-025-01369-w
- 25DOI ↗Risk factors for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in children: A systematic reviewR. Nowacki; L. Arayess; J. Kleijnen; A. Vreugdenhil; S. Mulkens · J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr · 2026Systematic reviewdoi:10.1002/jpn3.70362
- 26DOI ↗The characterization of feeding challenges in autistic childrenB. M. St John; K. K. Ausderau · Autism · 2024doi:10.1177/13623613241227518
- 27DOI ↗Considering a Functional Conceptualisation of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A Systematic Scoping Review of Emerging Evidence on ARFIDY. Karvay · Eur Eat Disord Rev · 2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.1002/erv.3180
- 28DOI ↗Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Feeding Disorders in Pediatrics: A Scoping ReviewR. Franchinotti; M. Moler; E. Paulenas; J. P. Saura; M. F. Andreu · Occup Ther Health Care · 2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.1080/07380577.2024.2401732
- 29DOI ↗Responsive feeding therapy for children with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD): A scoping reviewM. R. Mattner; A. L. Guzman; E. Moore; J. Fortuna; L. Cantwell-Jurkovic · Appetite · 2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.1016/j.appet.2025.108211
- 30DOI ↗A scoping review of psychological interventions and outcomes for avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)E. Willmott; R. Dickinson; C. Hall; K. Sadikovic; E. Wadhera; N. Micali; N. Trompeter; T. Jewell · Int J Eat Disord · 2024Systematic reviewdoi:10.1002/eat.24073
- 31DOI ↗A Systematic Review to Manage Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorders in Pediatric Gastroenterological PracticeU. Cucinotta; C. Romano; V. Dipasquale · Healthcare (Basel) · 2023Systematic reviewdoi:10.3390/healthcare11162245