Welcome to this month’s installment of “The Talk with April Anderson.” In this edition, we’re diving into the important topic of lactation feeding therapy and exploring how early feeding through breastfeeding or expressed milk shapes the foundation for later oral‑motor, sensory, and communication development. Whether you are a feeding therapist, speech‑language pathologist (SLP), lactation consultant, or […]
“Share Your Story” Winner Rachel Cunningham
What links me to the special needs community? I feel like my life has been one beautiful journey in learning about, supporting, and fully embracing the special needs community. I was raised by a parent who was a special education teacher and nannied as a high school and college student for two children who had […]
5.4 YEARS: FOUNDATION IS EVERYTHING
Our month began by visiting family out of town for more than a week, so needless to say our oral motor exercises took a ‘back seat’. Shortly after we settled back in at home, Annabelle began to be very sick with a fever, lots of drainage, croup, and eventually a sinus infection for 8 days. She was […]
Success Story: Kamdyn & Vanessa
3 years ago I was seeing a little boy named Kamdyn who had just turned 2 a couple months prior, through our state’s early intervention program. I was presented with some general background info such as scores, goals of the family, and his limited verbal productions. Also, he had 18 documented ear infections! All signs […]
EARLY ORAL-MOTOR INTERVENTIONS FOR PEDIATRIC FEEDING PROBLEMS: WHAT, WHEN AND HOW
“Early Oral-Motor Interventions for Pediatric Feeding Problems: What, When and How” Authors: Cecilia J. Manno, Catherine Fox, Peggy S. Eicher and MaryLouise E. Kerwin JEIBI VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 3, Fall, 2005 ABSTRACT Children with developmental delays often have feeding difficulties resulting from oral-motor problems. Based on both clinical experience and a review of published […]
NEW ARTICLE BY LORI OVERLAND!
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 this paper do you think are important in a Sensory-Motor Approach […]