I discussed many of the factors that influence the process of learning to chew in part one. This post will focus more on strategies and therapeutic techniques to help children move from a sucking to a chewing pattern. To reiterate what I said in part one, this is a slow process. While therapists can never predict how long it will take a child to learn to chew, I can say it will usually take a Keep Reading >>
The Skill of Learning to Chew
I wrote a guest post The Skill of Learning to Chew for Jo Cormack's website http://www.emotionallyawarefeeding.com Please check it out! http://www.emotionallyawarefeeding.com/blog/2016/7/11/the-skill-of-learning-to-chew-a-guest-post-by-krisi-brackett Keep Reading >>
The Long Road of Learning to Chew
The Long Road of Learning to Chew, part 1 One of the more common reasons for a child to be referred to feeding therapy is poor chewing (also described as being stuck in a sucking or suckle pattern). This might present in the following ways: gagging, choking or vomiting on lumpy bumpy foods and/or on solids pocketing or holding food orally for a prolonged amount of time sucking on Keep Reading >>
Part One: Interview with Mary E. Schiavoni, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist, Feeding Consultant, Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Therapist
1. What is your background and what led to the design of the Chewy Tube? From the earliest days of my professional career I have had an interest in specializing in the pediatric field, working with children having special needs. In addition to my educational preparation as a Speech and Language Pathologist, I also acquired certification as an Elementary Education Teacher, and in the area of Keep Reading >>
Using Gross Motor for Oral Motor – How Trunk Turning Exercises Can Improve Tongue Lateralization by Debbie Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP, owner & inventor www.ARKTherapeutic.com
The author, Debbie Lowsky, MS CCC-SLP gave permission for this article to reposted here. Looking at gross motor skills in relation to oral motor skills is an important concept. Developmentally, a child achieves trunk rotation before lateralization in the mouth. Therefore, It make sense that using exercises that develop rotation can help with the progression toward chewing. I also use rotation Keep Reading >>
Oral Dysphagia (oral motor delay): Making recommendations for appropriate diet textures for the child with feeding difficulty
I'll give you the answer first: a child's diet texture should be appropriate for their oral skill level. Sounds so obvious right? I've seen this scenario many times... a child is referred for a feeding evaluation because of poor eating (not eating enough), choking with meals, pocketing or expelling foods, or having prolonged meal time. Parents are at their wits end, they don't know Keep Reading >>