Hand-In-Hand Speech Pathology in East Gosford, New South Wales, Australia | Medical and health

Hand-In-Hand Speech Pathology

Locality: East Gosford, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 402 097 005

Address: 121 Victoria St 2250 East Gosford, NSW, Australia

Website: http://handinhandspeech.com

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25.01.2022 Interested in being part of a study regarding adults and kids with speech problems or stuttering? The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute are currently in the... process of recruiting for a Genetics of Speech study AND Genetics of Stuttering study. Children do not have to have a diagnosis to be involved in the study. They can conduct interviews via internet. Please contact them at [email protected] OR [email protected].

24.01.2022 Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnoea On Wednesday night, I attended the Australian Sleep Association’s first WA branch meeting at the UWA... Club. The presentation by Perth ENT Dr Richard Lewis was on Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HNS) and a trial that is being conducted in several centres around Australia including UWA. The target of this treatment is to address poor muscle tone of the genioglossus muscle, that forms the bulk of the tongue. When this muscle contracts, it stabilises and enlarges the airway. When it relaxes, especially during sleep, the airway is particularly vulnerable to collapse and the development of obstructive sleep apnoea (defined by repetitive blockages of the airway during sleep). HNS involves placing a sensor in the chest to detect breathing. This is synced to a electrical pulse generator implanted beneath the skin of the neck. This sends a signal to the hypoglossal nerve through leads placed in the tongue. The mild stimulation of this nerve leads to protrusion of the tongue and opening of the airway. This therapy has previously been referred to as a form of electrical myofunctional therapy. It may be beneficial for some patients who can’t tolerate front line options like CPAP or dental devices, or don’t want to have more invasive surgeries. The lecture was engaging and by one of the most progressive ENT surgeons in Perth. However, I see a more impactful strategy to alter a person’s trajectory of sleep breathing problems as the promotion of proper tongue function and tone from birth. This is why good tongue suction and non compensatory breastfeeding matters to me. The genioglossus muscle is what is restricted when there are tongue ties. And because it is the back of the tongue that is most implicated in airway blockage, it raises the question of what is the impact of posterior tongue tie (when only the back part of the tongue is restricted). It would make sense as we age that disuse of the genioglossus muscle over decades would result in poor tone. This would make it more prone to blockage of the airway when the muscles relax during sleep. Myofunctional therapy or tongue exercises have been proven to be an effective adjunct to help reduce snoring and sleep apnoea. But tongue ties can be just one barrier to achieving the full range of tongue mobility and the goals of this therapy. I think there is a lot more to be discovered in this space, but it is good to see more attention given to tongue function in sleep medicine through options like hypoglossal nerve stimulation and conventional myofunctional therapy. As this trend continues, I anticipate we will see higher levels of research on tongue ties and the impact on breathing and sleep. And we will see beyond tongue tie release, the restoration and re-education of proper function is paramount. Note: the picture shown is used to illustrate the principle of HNS, but it from the makers of a more established device Inspire, not Nyxoah which is being trialled in Perth.

24.01.2022 No wonder learning to read and write English is so tricky!

23.01.2022 Children with missing teeth (teeth never grew) or teeth removed had more narrow mouths, predisposing them to obstructive sleep apnoea. The authors reason that "...Alveolar bone growth is dependent on the presence of the teeth that it supports." This is why the standard practice of removing teeth due to "teeth not fitting" in childhood is no longer routine, as it was when we were kids. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11325-015-1238-3

23.01.2022 How is "malocclusion" (literally, "bad bite", teeth/jaws not coming together properly) changing our speech over time? The people I see with the most severe ove...rbites have difficulty saying sounds like "m" and "b". Because their lips struggle to meet to make these sounds, they produce these sounds by getting their lower lip to meet their upper teeth (making a "labiodental" rather than "bilabial" sound). https://www.sciencemag.org//ancient-switch-soft-food-gave-

22.01.2022 Sleep disorders in children with ADHD - also very relevant to children with other neurological issues and developmental delays.

22.01.2022 I SHOULD be preparing for my upcoming NDIS audit, but this is so much more interesting! Let's talk about THUMB- and DUMMY-SUCKING! Have you ever heard parents a...rgue that "better a dummy than a thumb - at least you can take away the dummy"? Well, this study found that babies who used a dummy daily, had increased digit/thumb sucking. (Note, not necessarily causative). Also of interest: - children who sucked thumb/fingers daily were at increased risk of jaw/teeth problems (called malocclusion) - children breastfed for more than 6 months used the dummy less. https://www.researchgate.net//327171577_The_association_be

21.01.2022 How do I assess tongue tie? I have been refining my technique over the years, after receiving basically no training at university in how to assess tongue tie. ...We also have a lot more research available and this has shaped what I do now. In an ideal assessment, I look at: - tongue range of motion ratio (with a specially-made-for-the-mouth ruler in the mouth) as per article in comments - length of frenulum (also requires the ruler) - Tongue Tie Assessment Protocol (by Carmen Fernando), which assesses functional impact on feeding, saliva control/hygiene, oromotor skills, speech and psychosocial affect. - compensations for tongue tie, such as use of the jaw and lips to achieve tongue movements. Some tongue tied kids even use their hands to try to move the tongue, or move their entire head when trying to move the tongue. - Feeling the frenulum - Tongue ties shouldn't be assessed without feeling the frenulum with gloved hands. I am feeling for excessive tension of the frenulum when I stroke it with a finger. - I look for specific speech errors that have been shown to be difficult for people with tongue tie - especially s, z, r. Muffled speech, imprecise articulation and reduced speech intelligibility when speaking fast or when tired may also be signs that a tongue tie is affecting speech. - presence of malocclusion and dental problems, for which I refer to a dentist. Tongue tie assessment is: - NOT a visual check only. It should not be diagnosed by photos, although photos may show some of the mobility and compensation issues. - NOT merely sticking the tongue out and down. Lots of people with tongue ties can stick out their tongue, and the untrained clinician will assume there is no restriction. - NOT the absence of the heart-shaped tip. A submucosal tongue tie may be still be present, even without the visible notch at the end of the tongue.

21.01.2022 A literacy freebie to help out with homeschooling... https://www.spelfabet.com.au//free-download-my-reading-an/

20.01.2022 A good dentist looks beyond the teeth to airway and muscle dysfunction which commonly underly dental issues, such as grinding, dental crowding, crooked teeth an...d even decay. They ask about your sleep quality and whether you snore. They identify enlarged tonsils and refer you for ENT examination or sleep study if required. I could say the same about Speech Pathologists looking beyond the speech problem that the client is referred for!

19.01.2022 Common? Yes. Normal? No.

19.01.2022 "Mewing" - basically correcting your tongue rest posture in order to improve a range of things, from improving your looks to helping sleep disordered breathing,... including snoring. I would caution against DIYing this, as it is often harder than it seems, and requires the help of a therapist like myself. https://www.vice.com//mewing-the-niche-orthodontic-techniq

18.01.2022 Where does your tongue rest ? #CorrectOralRestPosture Learn more www.thebreatheinstitute.com

18.01.2022 Wondering if anyone is interested in intermittent hypoxia training on the Central Coast (southern end)? Uses include: enhancement of fitness, improving bronchia...l asthma/COPD, hypertension, protection against heart attack, increasing insulin sensitivity in T2 diabetes, weight loss, cognitive function in Alzheimers disease, and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). I'm looking to hire a machine for a month to help my OSA and am wondering whether anyone else nearby would like to do it too. See more

18.01.2022 I just finished a webinar with Dr German Ramirez: Guiding Craniofacial Growth and Development in Children. The take-home message? "THE EARLIER A MALOCCLUSION IS... CORRECTED, THE BETTER AND THE SIMPLER THE TREATMENT IS." What is better? Not living with sleep disordered breathing or its consequences (learning and behaviour difficulties) or speech problems or feeding problems or digestion problems. What is simpler? Not having to correct habits that have built up over 13 years (as opposed to 3, 4 or 5).

18.01.2022 Today is World Myofunctional Sciences Day! Getting in there late (for the Australian audience). ____________________________________ For those who are wo...ndering what myofunctional science is... AKA orofacial myology... The study of the function of the oral/facial muscles. Go here for more info: https://www.handinhandspeech.com/orofacial _____________________________________ For those interested in a deeper conversation, here is a link to a poster about the impact of tethered oral tissues (eg. Tongue/lip ties) on speech. Yes, there is research on it! Yes, we need more research! https://cdn.shopify.com//SPEECHFINAL2Robyn_Merkel-Walsh_2_ #worldmyofunctionalsciencesday #orofacialmyology #myofunxtionaltherapy

18.01.2022 Jaw problems, including narrow airways, TMJ disorders and crooked and crowded teeth, are a "silent epidemic" affecting almost 2/3 of the population (according t...o a 2007 study from Sweden). Studies of jaw structures from people across the ages shows that this is a modern problem. This book explores why our jaws aren't growing properly. See more

18.01.2022 Imagine what could be achieved if each school day and each therapy session began with breath work for regulation, followed by listening to the child talk about something that was important to them, followed by the learning.

17.01.2022 DID YOU KNOW?? Mouth breathing in kids can cause growth problems. It is thought that it affects the release of growth hormones. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30611649

17.01.2022 This is hugely important - during eating, learning and doing therapy. I have a Leander chair in my office. It is similar to the more common Stokke Tripp Trapp chair. It is an investment worth making.

16.01.2022 FASCIA: invisible on MRI or X-ray, traditionally ignored and "thrown into the bin" during cadaver dissection, yet the connective tissue system integrating the musculoskeletal systems. Go to this page for a great explanation of fascia. Paediatric ENT (with a background in anatomy), Dr Nikki Mills, from NZ, recently completed the dissection of >40 tongues post-mortem, looking specifically at the anatomy of the lingual frenulum. She presented her research at the recent "Perfect ...Motion" Symposium in Sydney. She found that the lingual frenulum is a normal structure. It is a layer of fascia, not a "band", contrary to popular belief. The floor of mouth fascia and lingual frenulum provide balance and stability. She therefore proposed that a tongue tie is an imbalance between mobility and stability. Conceptualising a tongue tie this way, and recognising it as part of a complex web of connective tissue, that flows all through the body, explains the role of tongue tie in various conditions (currently being reported within the field and needing further research). It also supports the need for a team approach to tongue tie, including the orofacial myologist and body worker. Thank you to the wonderful Dr Susan Hsieh Wood for drawing my attention to this information about fascia. https://sterlingstructuraltherapy.com/fascia/ #tonguetie #perfectmotionsymposium #orofacialmyology See more

16.01.2022 This weekend I am completing the second part of PROMPT training: Bridging PROMPT Technique to Intervention. I'm thankful for online training via Zoom! PROMPT stands for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is a great technique for clients with speech sound disorders. https://promptinstitute.com/

16.01.2022 Do you have TMJ problems and neck/postural problems? The head weighs approximately 4.5-5.5kg. Someone who has a forward neck posture may be exerting more like 1...5 or 20kg of force on their spine. Forward head posture pushes the mandibular condyle of the TMJ backwards. Professors Rocabado and Iglarsh reported a 70% correlation between having a forward head posture and a lower jaw that is pushed back (retruded). It is always important to find out the WHY of any problem. Some people have a forward head posture due to current airway problems. In those cases it is important to address that root cause. In others it may be a history of airway problems that have been fixed, or harmful habits (eg. "tech neck") or low tone, and the solution is postural retraining. As someone with TMD who is trying to take a holistic approach to my own care, pilates has been part of my healing journey. Addressing airway problems with surgery is also on the horizon. https://images.app.goo.gl/m4LTDpzWa1Wog77cA

16.01.2022 Does tongue tie impact speech? This is a contentious topic within my profession. There are a few reasons why it's contentious-... - it is under-researched. Most tongue tie studies focus on the impact of tongue tie on feeding in babies rather than speech in older children or adults. - Australian universities do not routinely teach students how to evaluate tongue ties so they are under-diagnosed - under-appreciated - under-fixed - under-researched. - Research is difficult because of the diverse types of tongue tie, the diverse ways in which individuals compensate for the tongue ties when they speak and disagreement about how to classify tongue tie. - Universities (and henceforth, our profession) have been focusing on language/brain-based speech problems for at least 20 years now. This study came out during my first year of practice as a Speech Pathologist - so it is old news, really. It was conducted by a Brazilian Speech Pathologist who has authored over 300 articles and books, had over 30 years of clinical experience and comes from a country which sees tongue ties and oral function very differently to Australia. The study found that 9% of the 1400 people in the study had tongue ties and of the 127 people with tongue tie, 49% had speech problems. The speech problems tended to be difficulty with R, R-clusters and s (including frontal and lateral lisps). https://www.researchgate.net//283328080_2004_Marchesan_IQ_

15.01.2022 Now offering teletherapy (not to be confused with telepathy).

15.01.2022 The Brazilians seem to be ahead of us in considering alternative models of this disease and treatments.

15.01.2022 A beautiful family's story to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10218664949123936&id=1504427965

13.01.2022 Tonsillectomy without tonsillitis? For every 1 child having tonsillectomy due to recurrent infection (tonsillitis), 9 children will have a tonsillectomy due to obstruction. Large tonsils, even if you don't get recurrent infections, can be a serious problem. They are a main cause of paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring in kids. Yet many doctors in Australia are unaware of this and will discourage ENT evaluation unless there has been infection. If your child has large tonsils, get it checked out by an ENT and if necessary, show this research link to your GP.

13.01.2022 A must-read for all parents, grandparents and people who work with children.

13.01.2022 Makes you think... What opportunities are more available to kids without smartphones- developing patience, problem-solving skills, communication skills, resilience and relationships.

13.01.2022 The message for the dentists is "airways first, teeth second", but for the speech pathologists it should be "airways first, speech second".

12.01.2022 Your late nights and early mornings have way more consequences for your health and memory than you think. Watch Matt Walker's full TED Talk here: http://t.ted.com/JnYz96v

11.01.2022 Pouches are for parents, because they are convenient. Find my articles on the pros and cons of pouches for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Amer...ican Speech Language Hearing Association & more by searching POUCHES at www.melaniepotock.com Tip: USE A SPOON For kids with special needs, pouches are a therapy tool. For all other kids, the concern is that too many pouches, too often, will hurt feeding development. And why would we want to do that to our children for the sake of convenience? Nobody wants that. When we know better, we do better as parents, and we are always learning. #babyfood #babyfoodpouch #feedingbaby #blw #purees #melaniepotock #ashaigers #feedingtherapy See more

10.01.2022 Social stories about Coronavirus. Social stories are not just for people with Autism - they are also very helpful for children with language delays, and for young children, to reinforce their understanding of language and concepts with pictures. Does your child understand how and why they need to wash their hands well, and why they aren't going out at the moment? https://childdevcenter.org//social-stories-for-kids-about/

10.01.2022 In my book, Adventures in Veggieland, we use tiny tasting spoons as we cook together & at the mealtime table too! Try these tips to encourage your child to take... a taste in the most positive way: Model, don’t direct. It’s so tempting to say Take a taste with your spoon! but for hesitant eaters, that’s just too much direction & may make them feel pressured. (I know it’s not your intent!) Instead, reach for your own tasting spoon & say I’m going to try a small sample of this. Model the power of tasting. In my children’s book, You are Not an Otter - The Story of How Kids Become Adventurous Eaters kids learn that they are the only creature on earth that has the power to change a taste. That’s the fun of cooking together, or adding a bit more herbs, butter or perhaps a dash of salt at the dinner table. Take a taste yourself & say Hmmmneeds dill, & then add a touch of dill or your favorite herb as you cook. Be cool. When kids DO take a taste with their tasting spoons, resist the urge to praise them. Just be cool, like they taste new foods all the time. Say So, what do you think? More dill or ? Rather than ask Did you like it? try just moving on. Be cool Mom. Be cool Dad. Model calm & your kids will learn that taking a taste if not a big deal. Most importantly they learn that not every taste has to taste good. It’s just a taste & we have the power to make it taste even better. For all my books, visit https://www.amazon.com/author/melaniepotock Come join my Adventures in Veggieland Facebook Group for more ideas on how to help kids learn to love veggies (and any new food) !!! Click https://www.facebook.com/groups/334500850389835/ & be sure to answer all 3 membership questions to join. #melaniepotock #tastingspoons #pickyeaters #parentingtips #parentingwins #cookingwithkids #kitchenbuddies #adventuresinveggiel& #youarenotanotter #kidscancook #veggies #slp #eatright

10.01.2022 Tongue ties don’t just impact breastfeeding success, they can also contribute to picky eating from the time babies start solids to much later in life. I have ha...d SO MANY kids who end up on my caseload in elementary school because they never grew out of picky eating as a toddler and the culprit all along was a strand of tissue commonly called a tongue tie. We all have a frenum that helps anchor our tongue, but when that tissue is too restrictive kids tend to stick to squish and swallow foods like chicken nuggets, fries, yogurt, fish crackersfood that just SQUISH between the teeth and are easily swallowed. Here are a few FUNCTIONAL signs that your child may have a tongue tie (ankyloglossia) and would require an evaluation by an experienced speech pathologist who specializes in feeding and knows how to perform an exam for tethered oral tissues (lip ties, tongue ties, buccal ties): Spoon and Finger Feeding Retraction of tongue upon presentation of the spoon. Inadequate caloric intake due to inefficiency and fatigue. Tactile oral sensitivity secondary to limited stimulation/mobility of tongue. Over-use of lips, especially lower lip. Difficulty progressing from munching to a more lateral, mature chewing pattern. Tongue restriction may influence swallowing patterns and cause compensatory motor movements, which may lead to additional complications, such as sucking back the bolus in order to propel it to be swallowed. Possible development of picky, hesitant or selective eating because eating certain foods are challenging. Gagging and subsequent vomiting when food gets stuck on tongue. Secondary behaviors to avoid discomfort that are thus protective in nature, such as refusing to sit at the table or being able to eat only when distracted. Requiring frequent sips of liquid to wash down bolus. Did you know that celebrity chef ( Cravings by Chrissy Teigen ) recently shared that her daughter had a tongue tie? It’s more common than you think, and best checked by a specialist. For more information on tongue & lip ties, please click https://mymunchbug.com/?s=tongue+tie

10.01.2022 Unless medical reasons or special needs dictate otherwise, try your best to use pouches occasionally. There are pros and cons, and it’s a touchy subject for so...me, but it’s my job as a speech pathologist and pediatric feeding specialist to educate parents & professionals on mouth development in children. I hope you’ll read my advice on the topic for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & the American Speech Language Hearing Assocation by clicking here: https://mymunchbug.com/?s=pouches #melaniepotock #blw #feedingbaby #feedingtoddlers #parenting #purees #babyfood #toddlerfood #slp #ot #rd #raisinghealthyeaters #feedinglittles #foodexplorers #babyled #feedingkids

09.01.2022 Caring for your Munchee.

09.01.2022 Prematurity and high narrow palates It is well known that premature infants are at greater risk of developing obstructive Sleep Disturbed Breathing (SDB). Thes...e sleep disorders are well linked to increased risk of developmental, neurocognitive and behavioural problems in children. We also know that narrow high palates are a risk factor for SDB. Last year, a research study of 244 premature infants exploring the links between high arch palates, the development of SDB and developmental outcomes at 2 years, was published by Huang et al. in the journal Sleep Medicine. *** What were the findings? 62% of pre-term babies had a high narrow palate at birth, compared to 10% of the control group (infants born 37-40 weeks). The high palate persisted during the two year follow up period. At the end of two years, 79% of the premature infant group had Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) compared to 10% of the control group. Within the subgroup of premature infants with narrow high palate, the incidence of OSA was 84.7%. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months using Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Denver Developmental Screening Tests (DDT). There was a greater proportion of children with developmental delay in the premature infant group at every stage. Within the premature infant group, there was a significantly greater proportion of children with developmental delay in the narrow high palate group compared to the normal palate group. Overall, the data supports that high narrow palate is an important risk factor in the development of abnormal breathing. *** Why is there a link with prematurity and high palate? The last three months of pregnancy are critical for the fetus to train normal reflexes and prepare for the functions of sucking, swallowing, chewing and nasal breathing. Prematurity interrupts this training time, leading to incomplete muscle development. This includes the tongue, which needs to function correctly to stimulate the midpalate suture and properly develop the palate structure. The palate is the floor of the nose. When it is high and narrow, the nasal passages are narrowed and there is increased resistance to nasal breathing. It promotes nasal disuse and the development of mouth breathing over time. Mouth breathing is also associated with poor stimulation of palate development. The cycle of dysfunction and poor structural development is perpetuated. The palate is also an important part of the skeletal framework that supports our collapsible tube of airway muscles. A narrow palate offers reduced support. The upper airway is more prone to collapse during sleep when its muscles (including the tongue) are more relaxed. *** As a dentist involved in with managing adult OSA, I see the narrow high palate in many of my patients. I often find it despairing to listen to the impacts it has had on people’s health, mood and quality of life and wish the problem had been intervened earlier. I believe normalizing both orofacial muscle functions and palate structures as early in life as possible is a very worthwhile goal. Of great interest to me is that the same group of researchers has previously shared data demonstrating that myofunctional therapy exercises to stimulate more normal oral function helps normalise palate development and breathing over time. (Huang et al. 2012) They excluded a group of children who were having myofunctional therapy from the premature infant group in the 2019 published study for this reason. I have a special interest and am closely following the research in this area. I hope to learn more approaches with interdisciplinary colleagues to help this high-risk group in the future. I also hope to see more focus on prevention as early as conception and specifically through addressing maternal sleep disturbed breathing, a known risk factor in pre-term births. #AirwayMatters

08.01.2022 Malocclusion ("bad bite" = teeth not meeting properly) and other dental/orthodontic issues are associated with tongue tie. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org//a10de8d5db9f49035e3a4e97

07.01.2022 This case study found that "Within four days of the procedure (tongue and lip tie releases), the patient had stopped snoring and demonstrated complete resolution of open mouth breathing." I encourage parents to become "sleep detectives" for their children. Videos can be helpful during ENT consults to show the specialist what's happening to a child's breathing during sleep.

07.01.2022 NO MORE SLEEP APNOEA Two years after this study, after nasal surgery, breathing therapy (including daily singing) and myofunctional therapy, I had a retest of my sleep. My apnoea-hypopnea index went from 14 in 2018 to 2 in 2020. The sleep physician declared that I do not have obstructive sleep apnoea anymore.... Other changes I have experienced include: - expansion of my mouth (2 wisdom teeth have emerged because there is more room for them in my mouth) - no orthodontics, just myofunctional work - improved health and well-being since fixing my hypocapnoea (low carbon dioxide). #myofunctionaltherapy (aka #orofacialmyology) has been shown to be effective in improving apnoea-hypopnea index in people with mild to moderate #obstructivesleepapnea

07.01.2022 https://www.collective.care//10-Things-that-happen-to-chil

06.01.2022 Snoring? ("In kids, it can sound like sucking air in through a straw, not necessarily loud and vibratory.") Reflux? Cranky? Inattentive? Asthmatic? Anxious? Teeth crowding? How are these related? SLEEP DISORDERS. Dr Jim Papadopoulos, Paediatric Sleep Physician, discusses sleep disorders, including the "Big 3": sleep apnoea, reflux and restless legs (also associated with teeth grinding). He covers some of the medical and behavioural solutions to these problems, as well as slee...p hygiene. The take-home message is: if you are concerned as a parent, trust your instinct and get a referral for a sleep study. It is the "gold standard" of assessment when sleep apnoea is suspected. Scroll down to see a sleep questionnaire. https://chataboutchildren.com/sleep-and-your-child-get-the/

06.01.2022 "TMD patients [people suffering with TMJ problems] see on average 6.9 specialists before receiving a definitive diagnosis." - National Institute of Health.

06.01.2022 A must-read for all speech pathologists. I think this represents a balanced view of the use of non-speech oromotor exercises to improve speech, swallowing and oral function. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4698470/

06.01.2022 Demystifying autism... "Autism isn’t a set of defined symptoms that collectively worsen as you move up the spectrum. In fact, one of the distinguishing features of autism is what the DSM-V calls an uneven profile of abilities.

06.01.2022 http://speechtools.com.au/959-2/

06.01.2022 HOW DOES YOUR CHILD SLEEP? Its a question we ask all parents when they bring their little one into the clinic.... And many are surprised by the question.... I mean, hello? We have spent years trying to get our babies to sleep... Once our kids are sleeping through the night, like you would even GO INTO THEIR ROOM and find out! For some parents, the answer is a solid "not great, hasn't slept well since she was a baby," no matter what the age.... Their child is up and down a few times a night, a bed wetter, regularly wakes for a drink or has regular nightmares or night terrors.... And as a parent, how do you know what is normal for their age and what isn't? So there are a few things we ask parents to do if they aren't sure... 1. Take some video...is their child restless or coughing or snoring throughout the night? 2. Keep a diary - make a specific note over 2-4 weeks of their child's sleeping and waking in the night. 3. Fill in a specific questionaire related to sleep....these questionnaires have been designed to pick up on any sleep issues that should be investigated by a medical professional further. Also, in our clinic, we look for signs in a child's face and mouth for potential issues that may be contributing to poor sleep. Combined with parents' information, this helps us piece together if there is a problem that needs further attention from a doctor. And how does sleep relate to thumb and finger sucking you might ask? Well, did you know that non-nutritive sucking produces serotonin which converts to melatonin which can help to initiate sleep as well as maintain sleep throughout the night? In our clinic we find that if we stop a child sucking their thumb and they have an underlying sleep problem, all of a sudden their thumb is gone, but the sleep problem may worsen.... Not what we want for your child at all! So maybe this evening, pop into your child's room on your way to bed and see how they sleep....you might be surprised that silence isn't always golden..... Out of these two, who do YOU reckon is getting a better night's sleep??? Worried about your child's sucking habit? Give us a call, we'd love to help. ph: 47 55 20 55

05.01.2022 "Imagine your little one is a tiny plant... Feed and water them everyday with WORDS". This idea is what inspired my Speech Tools cover picture some years ago. There are lots of great ideas here. Why not try a new idea each week?

05.01.2022 What's in a face? I will admit that I laughed at this meme for a second before pausing to consider the poor state of this baby's health. He has a significantly ...retruded (set back) lower jaw, open mouth posture and low forward tongue resting position. He may already have upper airway problems... Or if he does not now, he is at increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea in the future due to the effect of his present habits/posture on the growth of his face, which supports his airways. Interestingly, the "inconceivable" character from The Princess Bride has a lisp. The thing this baby has in common with him is a low forward tongue resting position, which is commonly associated with a lisp.

04.01.2022 There’s really no excuse for giving beginning or struggling readers predictable/repetitive texts that encourage them to guess words from pictures. There are so ...many lovely decodable books they can ACTUALLY READ by sounding out words. Here are a few on display at the DSF conference in Perth See more

04.01.2022 Learn MUCH more in my stories today and on IGTV tomorrow! Huge thank you to Kids Eat in Colorr for requesting info on this for her followers! Go to www.me...laniepotock.com for articles on this hot topic! #sippycup #strawcup #feedinglittles #feedingtoddlers #dentist #orofacialmyology #slp #slp2b #ashaigers #parents #pickyeaters #pediatricfeedingdisorders #melaniepotock #raisinghealthyeaters See more

03.01.2022 Just in case you thought Cobbers for Life and puppyland was going to distract me from my passion for speech pathology (and orofacial myology in particular)...! Here is some "light" reading I'll be doing in the coming weeks... Even if it is with 1 puppy on my left and 1 puppy on my right.

03.01.2022 PICKY EATING, FEEDING/SPEECH DELAYS, MUSCLE BALANCE, OROFACIAL MYOLOGY, TONGUE TIE. Such a great video with world renowned feeding specialist Melanie Potock and Speech Pathologist/Orofacial Myologist Hallie Bulkin... https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=240153027357381&id=146340342073238

02.01.2022 Stressed people can tend to breathe in ways that perpetuate the stress response. Working with the breath using mind/body breath practices can break some powerfu...l vicious cycles connected to the psychology and physiology of anxiety and stress. Here are some guidelines and breathing techniques with tips to help your breathing practices become more effective.... https://www.rosalbacourtney.com/breathing-techniques-for-a/

02.01.2022 October 2nd is global airway health day so this week and next we are posting all about how orthodontics is involved in airway health. Take a look at this video ...of young Joseph and how an orthodontic treatment plan will help with his sleep apnoea problems. To get an opinion on your airway problems, or build a plan for a healthy airway, book a consultation through our website: https://www.fullfaceorthodontics.com.au/ All treatments carry risks and we recommend that you speak to one of our health professionals / dentists / orthodontists at Full Face Orthodontists to see if treatment is suitable for you.

02.01.2022 Orofacial myology treatment can improve tongue and lip strength/endurance and - most importantly - mouth breathing, tongue resting position and symptoms of sleep disordered breathing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28315149

02.01.2022 I love working with my beautiful families, who are supporting their children to achieve the best they can and who value the importance of relationship. Communication is all about relationship!

02.01.2022 Does your child have problems with thumb or dummy sucking, recurrent ear infections or mouth breathing? Here Orthodontist Derek Mahony discusses the role of pa...cifiers, thumb sucking and bottle feeding in the development of malocclusion ("bad bite"), recurrent ear infections and poor face/mouth development. Mary Bourke, chiropractor and daughter of the dentist who developed a device to help with these issues, shows how the myomunchee can help. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YhABliw3X1Q#menu

01.01.2022 Long eyelashes--not just an attractive feature. This study showed that children and adolescents with allergic diseases had longer eyelashes compared to non-allergic peers. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15461756

01.01.2022 Resultado do uso prolongado e indiscriminado de chupeta. #hopeodontologia #odontopediatra #odontopediatria #odontologia #criancatratadacomrespeitoeamor #pacient...esespeciais #estomatologia #baraogeraldo #campinaseregiao #cambui #betel #paulinia #bebesnodentista #ortopediafuncionaldosmaxilares #chupeta #pacifier See more

01.01.2022 The article yesterday showed that dysfunctional breathing (specifically, paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea) was associated with lower IQs. Well here is a paper showing that breathing therapy can improve cognitive functioning in the ageing. https://www.dovepress.com/respiratory-training-as-strategy-