Beyond Taste: How the 8 Senses Can Impact the Feeding Experience

with Allie Glazer, M.S. CCC-SLP/L & Angela Hughes, M.S., CCC-SLP/L

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:00pm (PDT)
Virtual Event

Can't attend the event live? Register to receive access to the recording!

Grab your favorite snack for this session! Have you ever wondered why a child tries a strawberry one day, but then refuses and glares at your audacity (for the same food!) on other days? Have you ever lost your appetite after smelling a certain food cooking, even though you like that food? How about how the crackle of a food wrapper can bring a child running? Eating is a full body experience, and your 8 (yes, 8!) senses influence the feeding experience!

The goal of this talk is to thoughtfully investigate and responsively support families navigating feeding differences from a sensory system perspective. The sensory system impacts feeding and flavor perception for everyone. For some, this impact can lead to challenges in social, nutritional and feeding skills, especially when considered in the context of the caregiver-child dyad. We’ll develop curiosity and discuss underlying reasons children experience eating challenges, as refusal is often more than “just behavior”. We’ll explore these through the trifecta lens of evidenced based practice: research, clinical perspective, and lived experience. This is an intermediate level talk for feeding therapists and those interested in feeding therapy, as well as caregivers of children with feeding challenges. We welcome caregivers to join!

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, you’ll learn:

1. The 8 senses and how they impact feeding experience
2. How to differentiate between taste and flavor
3. How to reframe “picky eating” to “attuned eating”
4. Strategies and reflections to support acceptance, modifications and accommodations. 

Allie Glazer, M.S. CCC-SLP/L holds a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola University Maryland, and has been a practicing SLP since 2012. She has worked across the lifespan in school, medical, and home health settings. Read more HERE

Angela Hughes, M.S., CCC-SLP/L is an AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD) Speech-Language Pathologist working in Arizona Early Intervention Program
(AzEIP) who has passion for partnering with caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders and complex communication needs. Read more HERE

Non-Member: $55
IDA Agency/Individual Member: $40
IDA Parent/Student/New Clinician Member: $30

IDA CE Hours: Nursing, PT, Speech and Language $20 (2.0 hour)

ADA Requests: As a part of the Infant Development Association’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, we offer accommodations when possible. Please email IDA at [email protected] 10 business days prior to the event to request accommodations (ASL interpretation, large print, etc.).

Limited number of scholarships available
IDA's Email [email protected]

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