Customer Care
I am a parent who has been watching your DVDs in order to help my son – I don’t think there is a Talk Tools trained therapist where I live (Hawaii). How do I know which hierarchies are appropriate? I don’t know how to diagnose him properly. Could I send you a video and have… read more
Hi, Would you be able to recommend some at home products? My daughter (8 yr. w/Down Syndrome) is working on moving more air through the center of her mouth. Air is coming out the sides. Her therapist believes it will help her overall intelligibility. In addition to this central goal, she will be focusing on the production… read more
This excellent article by Pam Marshalla, MA, CCC-SLP is posted on the Oral Motor Institute site and discusses how some tools and methods have been categorized as “nonspeach oral motor exercises” (NSOME) but these same tools and methods were used by Van Riper and other pioneers of articulation therapy. Click here to Read PLEASE READ!… read more
I have been working with a 2, almost 3, year old patient for 10 months. He initially came to me with delayed speech — one-syllable words with limited vocabulary and reduced intelligibility. He now uses 5-6 word sentences spontaneously, intelligibility has increased, he has added new speech sounds and errors are primarily /th/ and blends.… read more
I have a student that will be transitioning to straw #4. The ¼ of an inch varies depending on how she puts the straw in her mouth. Do you have guidelines for this? Thank you for the question! In this case, the first twist must be resting perpendicular to her lower jaw. The first twist… read more
I am using your straws for therapy with several of my students. When we get to the thickened liquid steps I am not sure what food to use at the puree and pudding consistencies, as my student is allergic to wheat and dairy products. Can you offer suggestions or guidance? This is a great question… read more
Please excuse the delay in posting this on our site! A Sensory-Motor Approach to Feeding, Lori Overland, M.S., CCC/SLP In this paper published by ASHA Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) Lori explores the oral phase of feeding and how SLP’s can help child develop motor plans for safe nutritive feedings. What other parts of… read more
My child has no problems with eating or drinking, but grinds his teeth until I want to grind mine! His dentist says it’s common in kids with Down syndrome. I saw your teeth grinding items and wondered if they might help? He is 5 years old, does not speak much – he imitates sounds, growls… read more
I use the horn heirarchy and really love the results. One of my clients, a young girl, tenses her muscles – shoulder, stomach, facil, etc, to blow and make the appropriate sound for appropriate duration. How do I stop this compensation? The client is “fixing” – using a compensatory pattern that lets the SLP know… read more
I have a client that has a non-nutritive suck that he uses often during therapy activities. Not always for calming purposes. How do I eliminate this? Suckling is used for calming, but also to organize the body by providing stimulation to the temporomandibular joint. Because there are more nerves going through the TMJ than any… read more
