Did you know that 11% of children ages 3–6 have a speech, language, voice, or swallowing disorder and almost 15% of school-age children experience some degree of hearing loss? Communication disorders are among the most common disabilities in children nationwide. May is Better Hearing & Speech Month – a perfect time to help families learn…
Many people equate the word “occupation” with a 9-to-5 job, clocking in and out, putting food on the table and a roof over their family’s heads, so sometimes people are confused when we say that their child could benefit from occupational therapy! No matter where we are in the lifespan, from infancy to older adulthood, we…
It may sometimes seem like a difficult task to think of language activities to play with your child, but it doesn’t have to be! You can use everyday moments and activities to encourage language and communication skills and also incorporate quick and easy language games into your everyday life. Setting aside time in your days…
The term “oral motor skills” refers to the function and use of the lips, tongue, cheeks, jaw, and hard and soft palates in swallowing and in speaking. Oral motor development actually begins in utero and continues for the first several years of a child’s life. Sometimes, children show weaknesses in oral motor skills which can…
Although it doesn’t feel that way for most of us, speaking with someone else is a complex activity. You have to be able to listen, interpret, and decide on a response, and then your brain coordinates what muscles need to move to say the sounds required to form the words. It is a lot of…
Many of my clients have great attendance to occupational therapy. I will see them for either one or two sessions per week, depending on their needs. Since occupational therapy is a client-centered profession, each session is individually tailored with two things in mind: first, the client’s immediate needs (such as their current sensory processing ability);…
Disorders of the muscles of the face and mouth in children can cause issues with breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, chewing, swallowing, speech, breathing, sleep, dental alignment, oral hygiene, and even social interactions (due to open mouth breathing, drooling, and/or holding the tongue out of the mouth). Myofunctional therapy (also known as orofacial myology)…
Remember the story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? As a child I used to love watching the movie—the one where Burl Ives, starring as Sam the Snowman, narrates Rudolph’s journey to the Island of Misfit Toys and back—but I always remember wishing the other reindeer would just let Rudolph join in their games. My…
A few months ago, my children and I were visiting my mom for a few days. The daughter of my mom’s best friend (I’ll call her J) had just moved back to our hometown with her daughter, so my mom invited them all over for lunch. J and I have known each other since we…
A friend of mine approached me recently, concerned because her 5-year-old son’s teacher had suggested he needed to be evaluated by a psychiatrist for ADHD. The teacher colorfully described him as “inattentive” and “highly distractible” but “very smart.” Knowing that I work in pediatrics, my friend was desperate for a second opinion. I knew some…