I wanted to take a moment to highlight the profound impact that understanding interoception has had on my practice as an SLP. If this term is new to you, I highly recommend exploring Kelly Mahler's work in this area. Her insights have been transformative for me.

In essence, interoception refers to our body's internal signaling system, which informs us of how we're feeling. This awareness guides our actions concerning safety, nourishment, and bodily functions, while also playing a crucial role in emotional regulation and validation.

In the realm of feeding therapy, especially for those within the non-speaking community, a grasp of interoception is indispensable. Failing to incorporate this understanding, in my clinical opinion, may inadvertently lead to harmful unintended consequences.

Our approaches mustn’t inadvertently foster masking behaviors or encourage people-pleasing tendencies, as this could potentially be detrimental. Being attuned to signals indicating when to eat, pause, visit the restroom, engage in movement, or request a break is huge. Our kids shouldn't be working for a swing if they need a swing to bring their bodies back to a sense of safety.

In our neurotypical-centric world, environments, and societal norms often fall short of respecting bodily autonomy. A prime example is when a student is told to hold off on a restroom break, or being asked to "sit still."

For autistic people and ADHD’ers, interoceptive challenges are often common due to their unique sensory needs, and due to our society conditioning us to ignore our cues! This is a key reason why I shifted away from desensitization methods in my feeding therapy practice. While I still draw on aspects of that knowledge, my primary objective is now to collaborate with the child's sensory system, rather than work against it.

How do you keep yourself regulated? What works for your kids? Let's open up the conversation!

-Miss Steph