EI for feeding issues

[Anonymous]

I just contacted our county’s EI programme after reading so many good posts about EI. Anvita’s solid intake has drastically reduced and she would not even taste solids on many days. On a better note, she has started to like her bottles. But, Iam worried as I was planning to reduce her bottles and increase her solids intake as she already 10 months old.

Iam concerned as to what should I expect from EI programme especially financially as Iam still battling with my Insurance for covering Anvita’s medicines. Any tips will be very helpful.

[Anonymous]

EI is free in most states. Our state is a sliding scale fee regardless if your insurance pays or not. Even if insurance refuses to pay, the fee is minimal per month.

Most times, it should cost you nothing…..

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ann Marie..I was wondering whether OT and other services are chargeable or not..

[Anonymous]

It’s all included here as EI, no matter if it is OT, PT, Speech, or an EI teacher…..

Good luck and let us know how it goes…

[Anonymous]

Sangeetha, I’m sorry that your dd is battling with her solid in take, but also glad to finally hear of someone else going through the same thing. We haven’t gone back to therapy for the solids issue because the ped. wanted to wait until 12 months??? I tried to tell him she just won’t eat. It’s like they haven’t figured out it is food like the bottle is, or we have some serious texture issues. Could you email when you find out about the EI? I have been overloaded with dr. bills this year and I couldn’t go back to work so I may try it too.

I did find that if I put the babyfood in the fridge or freezer she will take a few bites for some reason, and its usually only when everybody else is eating. I think she likes the cold. Also, I let her dip her fingers in it and feed me a few times, just trying to get her used to it. There are some good past posts full of techniques from ot’s. Hang in there, I know its crazy.. a baby is supposed to eat babyfood!

[Anonymous]

Sarah,

What you just described sounds more like a sensory issue than a feeding issue (well, they can go hand in hand). I am VERY shocked at your peds advice to wait till 12 months. I would get an EI eval ASAP. Sensory issues are harder to treat when the “habits” go to long. A speech therapist or OT should do your evaluation, I know some counties do a full team while others do only 2 evaluators to do the entire core eval, so if this is the case, make sure one is speech or OT.

[Anonymous]

Ann Marie, Thanks again for the info.

Sarah, its very disturbing to read about the Ped’s advice. Sometimes, I wonder why Peds fail to have human touch..many a times I see they treat my baby as a non-living thing which has no feelings of its own. This is true when they fail to recognize the pain my baby is in. Anyway, I did talk to one of my state’s EI co-ordinatiors who said that they process includes contacting our insurance and initially one of them will come to my home to evaluate my baby. Then, they will chalk out a plan of action which might involve OT, SP, etc..I was informed that OT and other misc services will be chargeable (but definitely much lesser than the ones charged at the Children’s Hospital). They also have some programs which can fund the therapies, but you need to qualify after them.

You can contact your state’s EI and find out more..

http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/index.shtml

Good luck and please keep us posted

[Author]

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