What we do

disorders Treated

We treat

language disorder

An expressive language disorder is characterized by an individual's inability to communicate his/her wants and needs. An expressive language disorder could be secondary to a limited expressive vocabulary, failure to utilize morpho-syntactic forms, and an inability to create and produce a cohesive utterance.

A receptive language disorder is characterized by difficulties understanding language. A receptive language disorder can also be identified by an individual's inability to recognize appropriate morpho-syntactic features of language, difficulties following auditory directions, and/or difficulty comprehending an auditory message.

Individuals who present with expressive and receptive language disorders will always benefit from a language rich environment and by the models and examples that are being presented. A Speech Language Pathologist will identify the areas of difficulty and work on these skills in an isolated setting and progress to a more naturalistic environment.

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We treat

Voice Disorder

Voice therapy is considered a “medical necessity” and must be prescribed by a medical doctor. Voice therapy is objectively and subjectively evaluated and treated by a licensed Speech Pathologist. Individuals requiring voice therapy typically present with a

Hoarse
Raspy
Breathy Voice Quality

Many of these individuals present with underlying medical conditions which are creating their voice symptoms. These patients will need to treat the “cause” and the “symptom” for optimal results. However, some individuals engage in “vocal abuse.” Vocal abusers are typically those individuals who “speak” or “yell” for a living and do not focus on vocal hygiene or maximizing breath support. Again, these individuals may have a hoarse, breathy or raspy voice quality.

We treat

Tongue Thrust

Tongue thrust, simply defined, is the process of thrusting the tongue forward and/or sideways against the teeth or in between the teeth while swallowing or speaking.

The number of times that an individual swallows with a tongue thrust can have an adverse effect on the hard palate, dentition, occlusion, and overall facial structures. However, an improper resting posture of the tongue can also have a significant impact on the structure and shape of the oral cavity as a whole. Improper resting posture and swallowing can create a high/narrow palate, reduce space in the airway and create a malocclusion.

A tongue thrust is typically found to be hereditary however, this does not mean that it will present itself in the same way or cause medical or dental issues to both individuals. Many of these families present with similar anatomy (ie: short lingual frenum, limited airway space) which will perpetuate a tongue thrust.

What can parents do to help a child overcome a tongue thrust? Cooperation, understanding and patience on the part of the parents are essential in the correction of a tongue thrust. The role of the parent is to spend time assisting the child with their exercises and helping them to understand the “purpose” of the exercise and what “the exercise” is trying to accomplish. It is important for the parent to understand that the goal of therapy is to change the child’s overall motor plan as it relates to swallowing and resting posture. This takes time especially if the individual is beginning therapy at an older age. Above all, parents must use a positive approach when assisting their child in overcoming a thrusting habit.

We treat

Auditory Processing

Many children and adults demonstrate difficulty following auditory directions, keeping information in their short-term memory, discriminating between different sounds, rhyming or in layman's terms "reading between the lines." These individuals can hear all the sounds and words accurately, however, before the sounds or words make it to the brain to be processed, the message becomes “garbled” and negatively impacts the individual’s ability to process the information correctly. Individuals with traditional auditory processing disorders or central auditory processing disorders (CAPD) are often misdiagnosed as inattentive, behavioral, hyperactive, learning disabled, dyslexic, etc.

These individuals often appear to be “paying attention” yet they did not process a word that was said. Many individuals with processing disorders or CAPD often present with difficulties with phonemic awareness, reading and writing.

A central auditory processing disorder can only be diagnosed by an audiologist. The audiologist performs a battery of assessments that determine whether a central auditory processing deficit exists. Many of the assessments require an individual to perform a series of tasks while competing background noise is presented, simultaneously.

We all suffer from some type of processing disorder, but over the years, we have learned to compensate by using different strategies, i.e., creating mnemonic devices, making lists, or using Post-it notes. These are the strategies that we utilize to compensate for our processing difficulties. Auditory processing disorders are not curable but they are manageable.

We treat

Chewing & Swallowing

Chewing and swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia, involve difficulties in the process of moving food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. These disorders can occur for various reasons, including neurological conditions (such as a stroke or Parkinson's disease), structural issues (such as tumors or narrowing of the esophagus), muscular disorders (like muscular dystrophy), or even as a result of aging, or an inability to accept, tolerate, and manipulate the food within the oral cavity due to muscle weakness or limited range of motion. There are many different types of swallowing disorders therefore it is important to figure out where the swallowing issue is taking place so that the proper treatment can be provided.

We treat

Textures & Consistencies

Texture and consistency aversions with feeding refer to a person's dislike, avoidance, or inability to tolerate and manipulate certain food textures or consistencies. These aversions can significantly impact eating habits and nutritional intake but also extend far beyond just eating.

There are multiple therapeutic approaches that can be used to expand someone’s dietary repertoire however, it is important to conduct a thorough evaluation and obtain a detailed case history before therapeutically intervening to be sure that there are no underlying medical issues.

Feeding/Texture/Consistency Evaluation:

Obtain a detailed case history including any issues with:

Early Feeding skills: latching, sucking, breastfeeding, nipple/bottle types, breast milk, formula, allergies, digestion (ie: reflux (GERD), vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or colic)
Later feeding skills: bite-size, chewing patterns, bolus formation, compensatory techniques and supports.
Collect a food inventory from birth-current day to determine patterns in the types of textures that are not tolerated.
Rule out allergies
Gross and fine motor skills
Conduct a thorough intraoral evaluation
Lingual range of motion
Labial range of motion
Lingual frenum
Occlusion/malocclusion
Airway- restricted/enlarged tonsils
Swallow pattern

Based on this information the Speech Pathologist/Feeding Specialist can make recommendations for treatment or refer the patient and their family to another medical or dental professional for a more comprehensive evaluation:

Here's A Breakdown:

Texture Aversions: A preference against specific food textures. This can include aversions to crunchy, soft, chewy, or slimy textures.

Some people may dislike crunchy foods (like raw vegetables) or mushy (like overcooked grains).
Textural aversions can be common in children, who may refuse foods that don’t meet their texture preferences.

Consistency Aversions: A preference against certain consistencies of food, such as liquid, solid, or semi-solid forms.

An individual may avoid liquids (like soups) or prefer solids (like meats and vegetables).
Some might have a strong aversion to anything that is mixed or has an unappealing consistency, such as lumpy purees.

How does this impact feeding?

Nutritional Consequences: Aversions can lead to a limited diet, potentially resulting in nutritional deficiencies and failure to thrive.

Behavioral Aspects: Aversions may stem from past negative experiences with certain textures, consistencies, smell, and/or appearance leading to anxiety around eating certain types of food. I.e., If a patient is presenting with an oromyofunctional disorder they may become averse to foods that they have trouble chewing and breaking down therefore causing them to spit it out.

Developmental Considerations: In children, these aversions can be part of normal development, but they may require intervention if they persist and significantly impact the child’s diet.

Secondary to Lingual and/or Labial Weakness or Restriction: Which limits range of motion and inhibits the tongue's ability to manage and manipulate the food prior to and during swallowing.

Management Strategies:

Gradual Exposure: Introducing new textures and consistencies slowly and in non-threatening ways can help expand a person’s dietary repertoire.

Sensory Play: Engaging with food through play can help desensitize aversions and allow the eater to see food in a “non-threatening” way.

Variety: Offering a variety of foods with different textures and consistencies in a non-pressuring environment can encourage acceptance.

Strength and Agility: As the individual improves their lingual strength and range of motion, chewing pattern, bolus size and consistency management they may find themselves being able to manage more foods as a result.

Understanding why and where these aversions stem from is essential for caregivers and healthcare professionals to support treatment plans that focus on healthy eating habits.