Tag: DOWN SYNDROME

Belle is continuing to progress month after month. She has become more vocal, and she has officially mastered walking. Belle is confident in her ability to walk anywhere she wants to go. She consistently says 23+ words and is trying to say several more but may leave the beginning or ending sounds off. For example, in […]

By: Robyn Merkel-Walsh MA, CCC-SLP Presentation of the Problem: Individuals with Down syndrome are at risk for what is known as Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders or OMD. OMD can impact the oral phase of feeding, oral resting postures and oral placement skills for speech clarity. OMD issues require tactile therapies which include Myofunctional and Oral Placement Therapy (OPT). Myofunctional therapy […]

      TalkTools is heading to the National Down Syndrome Congress Annual Convention this week in Phoenix. We hope to see many of you there! We have two tables where you can visit us to find out more information about our workshops, services, and products. We will be located at tables 410 and 412, and will have lots of […]

The Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area’s mission is to promote the unique contributions of children and adults with Down syndrome by providing direct services to them and their families, and to educate the general public by fostering inclusive and integrated involvement with the Down syndrome community and society at large. The DSCBA has put together a […]

Belle is starting to imitate words more which I am excited about. To date, she has approximately 18 words and 18 signs. She is very animated and quite dramatic at times 🙂 Annabelle continues to eat well and is doing great with her new Straw #4. She has improved tremendously with her “chomping” exercises in the […]

Annabelle is continuing to do well with her straws and eating. Several of her teeth are coming in all at the same time so she is getting to eat a bigger variety of foods, which she enjoys. We continue to do her OPT exercises twice a day. She doesn’t love them, but I try to […]

I recently attended the “Three-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy” and it was great. Monica was the presenter and I really learned a lot. It helped to show me what exercises and goals we will continue to progress towards. I know that Belle has a long way to go, but being in a routine of daily exercises for the […]

Earlier this month Annabelle was spitting out almost all of her food. It was extremely frustrating, to say the least. We knew that she needed all the calories that she could get because she is still a pretty tiny little thing.  In addition, we knew that she had created a horrible eating pattern of pushing food out […]

Annabelle has seen incredible improvement over the past couple of months. Since her last update, Annabelle is continuing to eat table foods and drink from her Straw Cup using the Straw #2 in the Straw Hierarchy. As many of you know, her progress and work with the Straw Hierarchy is right on track. Using the hierarchy appropriately will teach […]

Watch the following videos to see Annabelle’s exceptional progress in her therapy! Working on Straw #2: Eating table food: Working on oral motor exercises: -Lanie Beetsma Annabelle has Down Syndrome and has been using TalkTools Therapy since she was born. Her story is a great inspiration for parents seeking help for a child with Down Syndrome. […]