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Tag: ASK A THERAPIST

Ask A Therapist: Thickened Liquids & Straw Hierarchy

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 and one […]

Ask A Therapist: Jaw Stability Protocol for Severe Underbite

Hi Therapists, What do I do for a 19 year old student with a severe underbite (a gap of ½ inch between top and bottom teeth) when trying to use the jaw stability protocol? Thank you. When you are working on the Bite Blocks for jaw stability and the Bite Tube hierarchy, you will want to make sure […]

Ask A Therapist: Proper Tongue Elevation & Retraction

I need advice please! I am seeing a 5 year old child with severe childhood apraxia of speech together with dysarthria (specifically weakness of tongue and lips). So far his lip strength and movement has improved a lot, but I am really struggling with his tongue. He can protrude his tongue beautifully, retraction we are working […]

Ask A Therapist: TMJ Sensory Feedback for Calming

Hey Sara, Recently you had a parent open question meeting in Corpus Christi, TX. I was there with my 8 month old baby. You were talking to a woman who’s 5-ish son with Down syndrome was repeatedly hitting his chin. You mentioned he was satisfying a feeling that was in his jaw by that action. […]

Ask A Therapist: Optimal Bite & Structural Cross Bite

Hello Sara, I took your course in NYC Sept 2013. I have a question, if you don’t mind answering, I have a student with down’s syndrome who is 12 years old and up until now has not been motivated to work many aspects of speech and language.  This year she is more motivated and feel […]

Ask A Therapist: Nasal Emission of “SH”, “CH”, & “J”

Hi Sara, I have a student who is turning four years old next month. I have been seeing her for several months for nasal emission on /sh/, /ch/ and /j/. She never had any anatomical problems and has been seen by an ENT. Oddly, she produces /s/ and /z/ just fine in spontaneous speech. I’ve […]

Ask A Therapist: Unsupervised Chewing

Hello, My patient was evaluated by you in June of 2014. We are currently using the red bite tube and yellow bite tube in therapy and at home to improve jaw strength and stability. However, the patient is now seeking ‘input’ orally—especially with chewing—now more than ever before. How can we support this sensory need […]

Ask A Therapist: Vocalic /R/

Hi Ms. Rosenfeld-Johnson,   I took your oral placement technique course in New York a few weeks ago. I have a few clients who have difficult with the /r/ and tried out the robot technique. A lot of those same kids also have trouble producing the glottal fry — do you have any pointers for me?   […]

Ask A Therapist: Strong Gag Reflex

Tervehdys!   I am speech pathologist from Finland, took your class about Feeding Therapy: a sensory-motor approach at Helsinki last May. I am sending you an e-mail, because I met a new client shortly after the class and this case really bothers me. I have asked permission from parents, to send this e-mail and pictures/short video when […]

Ask A Therapist: A Therapeutic Alternative to Mouthing Habits

Hi Sara,   It has been awhile since we have seen you in Richmond! James is doing well. His speech seems pretty normal to us at this point (maybe some subtle things remaining). I was emailing with a related question, and hoping that you can point us in the right direction.   James has had some issues […]