Quick answer: Cranial dystonia is a broad term for dystonia affecting areas of the head/face (often including jaw, face, and tongue), which can impact chewing, speech, and swallowing. Embouchure dystonia is a task-specific dystonia that can affect brass/woodwind players and may show up only when forming the embouchure or playing. Because TalkTools’ Oral Placement Therapy […]
Avoiding Backsliding: The Active Effort of Practicing Good Habits
Quick answer: When routines change, even strong skills can “backslide.” Practicing good habits helps us most. I STOP, pause my cues, and remember Elizabeth can do it and knows she can. Practicing good habits has been on my mind a lot lately. I am about 4 months out from the fall that broke my leg. […]
A Parent’s Perspective: The Journey of Feeding & Mealtime
Quick answer: For Elizabeth, feeding was less about food variety and more about the motor planning steps of self-feeding. What helped was breaking utensil use into small steps, practicing often, and staying patient as dyspraxia and sensory needs made habits hard to change. Mealtime today: slow and steady As I watch Elizabeth eat her dinner […]
Ask A Therapist: Tongue Tie Assessment
The question Do you have any advice for tongue tie assessment? Therapist answer Yes! The good news is we have many resources for TOTs, like an eLearning course for TOTs screening called TOTs 5-Step Screening Tool, as well as a book titled Functional Assessment and Remediation of TOTs. We also offer a deep dive course […]
From the Experts: When Is Drooling an Issue and What to do About it
By: Lori L. Overland MS, CCC-SLP,C/NDT,CLC, FOM I am asked regularly by parents, therapists, physicians and participants who attend my courses how to address drooling. Copious drooling can be both a health and a social issue. I developed this webinar to explore the research on saliva production , and explore what is normal vs. abnormal […]
Special Needs Parenting Newsletter: A Parent’s Perspective Introduction
Quick answer: This newsletter is where I’ll continue sharing Elizabeth’s journey and a parent’s perspective on therapy, growth, and day-to-day life with special needs. Welcome to this special needs parenting newsletter. Hi to everyone! My name is Michele Gianetti, and I am a mother to 3 beautiful children. Meet Elizabeth My middle child, Elizabeth, has […]
Managing Elizabeth’s Adult Schedule: Working on Enjoying Downtime
As many of us know, very rarely do our children with special needs stay on a plateau, an even keel or simply the same spot for long. There are always changes, adjustments or surprises that leave us sometime shaking our heads and wondering just how did this happened? And I am the last one lately… […]
Ask a Therapist: Dopamine Feedback Loop
The question Do you know where I can find more information on the dopamine feedback loop when the alveolar ridge is stimulated? I know this was discussed when I learned about tongue restrictions and oral habits, but I’d love more information. Do you know where I can find more information on the dopamine feedback loop […]
Ask a Therapist: Lip Incompetence
Lip Incompetence Exercises: OPT Tips & Tools for SLPs | TalkTools® Skip to main content Free shipping on US orders over $99 Search products and courses Account 0 Cart Continuing Education New Courses Live Courses Self-Study Courses Course Bundles Become a Workshop Partner Learner Portal Shop Speech Tools Feeding Tools Sensory Tools Programs & Kits […]
Ask A Therapist: Feeding Difficulty
Ask A Therapist: Feeding Difficulty in a 3-Year-Old | TalkTools® Skip to main content Free shipping on US orders over $99 Search products and courses Account 0 Cart Continuing Education New Courses Live Courses Self-Study Courses Course Bundles Become a Workshop Partner Learner Portal Shop Speech Tools Feeding Tools Sensory Tools Programs & Kits Books […]