Feeding Assessment and Interventions using the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment Course:
Oral feeding is one of the most complex tasks that an infant must master, and poor oral feeding is often the reason that preterm or medically complex infants experience prolonged hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). An infant’s ability to take all feedings by mouth without supplemental means of nutrition is contingent upon multiple factors including arousal, reflex maturation, sensory and motor function, and coordination of suck–swallow–breathe synchrony. Due to medical factors, as well as immaturity of body systems, preterm and sick infants face challenges with oral feeding, which can lead to altered nutritional status, poorer developmental outcome, and difficulty with parent/child bonding.
Appropriate treatment of high risk infants with feeding problems relies on valid and reliable assessments to guide intervention. The Neonatal Eating Outcome (NEO) is a standardized feeding tool used by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists to comprehensively assess neonatal feeding and dysphagia. This assessment is unique not only due to its comprehensive nature, but also in that it assigns scores based on the current post-menstrual age, versus comparing preterm infants to infants at term equivalent age.
This course will cover the basics of neonatal feeding, including pre-feeding skills assessment, medical factors that affect feeding performance and decision making, and cultural components of feeding. Participants will learn assessment of arousal/state organization, oral tone, oral motor skills, sucking patterns, suck-swallow-breathe coordination, bolus control/safety of swallow, respiratory control in feeding, and behavioral responses to feeding. Evaluation of these elements using the NEO will be taught in detail, as well as scoring, interpretation, and documentation of results. Treatment strategies based on NEO results will also be discussed.
Structure of course: Register for the anticipated observation session below. Access to the pre-recorded videos will be available after registering. Please ensure adequate time before observation session to view the pre-recorded videos. You may not attend the observation session until completion of pre-recorded videos and practice evaluations.
Trainer: Laura Lewis
Observation Session Date & Time: October 19th, 2026 at 7AM-11AM PST
