Treating liquid expulsion in children with feeding disorders

The team worked with children who spit out drinks during meals.

They kept the basic cup program in place: accept the sip, no cup removal, and re-present if the child spit.

Then they tested two small add-ons: a light chin prompt or leaning the chair back a little.

Each child got both add-ons in a single-case design so the researchers could see which helped more.

Both extras cut liquid spitting almost right away.

The chin prompt worked by gently guiding the jaw closed.

The reclined seat used gravity to keep the drink in.

Either tweak made the original package stronger without extra rewards or new rules.

Carter et al. (2011) showed that a chin prompt plus re-presentation already beats re-presentation alone.

Shalev et al. (2018) widen the menu: you can pick chin prompt OR recline, and both still win.

Rubio et al. (2021) warn that jaw prompts can be hit-or-miss for acceptance.

Here, the chin prompt hit the mark for expulsion, showing the problem you target matters.

Silbaugh et al. (2020) proved nonremoval of the cup helps kids drink more.

Shalev keeps that piece and simply bolts on a quick physical assist, so the two studies stack instead of clash.

If a client spits out liquids, try one small change before you rebuild the whole plan.

Keep your current acceptance package, then add either a soft chin guide or tip the seat a few degrees back.

Track spitting for one meal: if it drops, you just saved time and stress.

No new tokens, no extra bites, just a five-second adjustment that can keep the drink in and the session calm.