Starting solids is exciting; however, gagging can make meals feel tense. Fortunately, occasional gagging is a normal part of learning new textures, and most babies improve as skills mature. According to the CDC, many babies can begin solids around 6 months, and gradual texture changes help them succeed—especially when portions are small and developmentally appropriate (When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods, 2025). The Problem: Big Textures, Brand-New Skills At first, thicker purées, mashables,
Holiday tips help me every year, because the holiday time can hit us out of the blue. One minute it is summertime, and the next we are seeing Christmas trees. I see it every year. I know I feel a wash of anxiety as I think of the holidays, mostly from all the things that need to be done. One thing our family considers, that many others do not, is how the holidays will affect
From thumb sucking to jaw clenching, oral habits and how to eliminate them is one of the most common challenges faced by parents, therapists, and caregivers. These behaviors may seem harmless or even soothing at first—but when they persist beyond the appropriate developmental stage, they can interfere with speech clarity, feeding efficiency, and jaw stability. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) often observe that these habits serve a deeper purpose: they meet the body’s need for sensory input
I used to think the holidays were a time to focus on the now—have fun however that looks, make our memories, and keep going even when we’re missing loved ones. That’s still true, and planning ahead can help. If it’s useful, here’s a short, gentle read on preparing your child for the upcoming holidays. Why the Empty Chair Matters Sometimes the table is different this year—one less chair, one voice we don’t hear. Our kids
Meet three voices behind real TalkTools success stories—a clinician (and mom) who advanced to Level 4 OPT, a parent whose child found his voice with the Horn Kit, and a public SLP specialist. Spotlight 1: Anne Salah Aziz — Therapist/Specialist (and Mom) TalkTools Journey Using TalkTools since: 2017 (began with Level 1 OPT in Egypt) Training milestone: Level 4 OPT (Florida, with Ms. Renee Hill) Roles: Pediatric therapist/specialist and parent to a child with epilepsy
If you’re working with clients who chew on their tongue or clothing, show open-mouth posture, or fatigue during chewing, TalkTools® Bite Tubes can be a game-changer. These therapist-designed tools provide targeted temporomandibular joint (TMJ) input and graded jaw work to support safer chewing and clearer speech patterns. In “Ask a Therapist,” TalkTools clinicians explain that rhythmic jaw movement can help clients self-organize and that bite tubes deliver the specific stimulus many clients are seeking—while also
Do any of your courses/products specifically address lip incompetence? Yes! The button pull, and tongue depressor barbell are two great exercises that address lip incompetence. You can find those in…
Hi I am an SLP who attended the “A Three-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy” workshop. I would like to find out if there is a set of speech…
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…