I have a question

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you very much for all the info on borage oil. I appreciate you taking

the time to give me all of that info.

On the topic of Pro EFA, my son has been on it for about 4 weeks and this

past week we've been seeing some wonderful things. This past Friday, my

husband and I took off of work and decided to take our two sons into NY to

see The Empire State Bldg. My oldest son is 5 with no problems and my

youngest son is 3 and is completely nonverbal except for the fact that he

said " yeah " last week. We're all the way up at the top of the bldg. and my

husband goes to take a picture of me and my sons and I said " ok &

, say cheese " knowing full well that only would say it and

sure enough smiles and says " eeeezzzzz " . I think my husband nearly

dropped the camera and me and my 5 year old started jumping up and down we

were so excited. He said it several more times throughout the day and

followed it up with 3 more words throughout the weekend. He went from

absolutely nothing to 5 words within about 4 days. There hasn't been as

much consistency using these words as I would like, but I'm thrilled that

we're finally getting somewhere. I am positive that this progress can be

attributed to the Pro EFA. I enjoy reading everyone elses success stories

so I'm excited to finally be able to share my own.

in NJ

KDR-1@...

[Guest guest]

This is in response to 's e-mail. My son Adam, is 2.9 and has been

almost comletely non-verbal since starting the ProEFA. How ironic that the

first word we noticed in Adam was cheese when we were taking a picture of him

at an Easter Egg Hunt. We can only attribute it to the ProEFA as well.

Since then, he has exploded with his vocabulary. He went from just a very

few words to about 35 since starting the ProEFA almost three weeks age. None

of them are used consistently and I have to encourage him greatly to say them

but it is such a joy to us when he does say them. I can only assume that

consistency will come with repitition. I also hope the vocabulary continues

to grow. The most amazing change in our house comes with the decrease in

tantrums and in Adam's ability to concentrate and pay better attention. It

helps the learning process for him tremendously when he is not so

scattered as he was before the ProEFA.

I just wanted to make sure of the dosage. I give Adam one capsule daily. I

read postings that people are increasing the dosage after 3 months. What is

that all about?

Thank you in advance.

Janet (Mom to Adam 2.9 with verbal apraxia & Kaitlyn 2 months)

[Guest guest]

Janet,

My son has Fragile X and is 8 years old. he was born non verbal. Do you think

this pro Efa would help him start talking?

Let me know.

[Guest guest]

My son is six and still sucks on things although not as much as before. His

sheets on his bed are black from where he has sucked on them and will not

come clean.We were outside one day and a silk flower from the wreath on the

door had blown off and was on the ground.he picked it up and put it into his

mouth.I thought that the sucking stage was over.His SLP and his OT told me he

still needs that stimulation due to his apraxia and his oral motor planning

problem.They said it will eventually go away.Hope that helps.retchen mother

of 6 with apraxia.

[Guest guest]

Hey -

I found that when my son, , started being vocal and speaking more, he

also wanted to explore his mouth. I always said his mouth was " waking up "

and this is how he " explored " it. It makes since??!!

North Carolina

http://www.verbaldyspraxia.com

> Hello Everyone,

> I have a question about something I've been noticing with Graham. He has

started sucking his shirt. And some times he sucks his fingers too. He has

never done this before a couple of weeks ago. He didn't even have a

pacifier as a baby. It has puzzled us and wondered if anyone had some

insight.

> Thanks,

>

> Kaufman Kits, etc. http://shopinserviceinc.goemerchant2.com

[Guest guest]

,

My son, Kurt, also sucks his thumb quite a bit. Our SLP explained

that this may be due to the lack of sensation in and around his

mouth.

Doug, father to age 7 and Kurt almost 5

Cincinnati

Hello Everyone,

I have a question about something I've been noticing with Graham.

He has started sucking his shirt. And some times he sucks his

fingers too. He has never done this before a couple of weeks ago.

He didn't even have a pacifier as a baby. It has puzzled us and

wondered if anyone had some insight.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My daughter also started sucking on her shirt and biting on objects just

about a month ago (when she turned two), and it coincided with her starting

to talk more, but also to drool much. I am wondering what the relation is

between these two... Is it the same also with Graham or ? Also, it

seemed to me she does it much more when she is nervous or among other

people aside from the immediate family, could it also in her case be a sign

of being nervous or stressed out?

Best regards,

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gretchen,

It does help to see other people are going through the same things I have

another thing that is starting to concern me that I thought we were past.

Graham has started choking on his food again. He has always been a choker.

We have always been careful about the foods he was eating. But about 10 mo

ago he stoped choking. So we stoped watching out what he ate as closely.

Well he started choking again almost every meal this week. He has also

started throwing up again during meals. We will be sitting down to a quiet

meal and he will either choke or throw up. Has anyone else had these things

go away totally and then come back. Does this mean he is regressing? What I

am concerned about is that at sunday school and friends houses they give him

hard candy and hot dogs and chips. These are the things he chokes on most.

I don't want to prevent him totally from eating fun foods in a typical 4

year olds diet. I also don't want to call attention to his problems in

front of his friends. But if I leave him somewhere, I don't want him to

choke and I know nobody watches him the way I do.

Thanks for letting a worried mom vent.

> My son is six and still sucks on things although not as much as before.

His

> sheets on his bed are black from where he has sucked on them and will not

> come clean.We were outside one day and a silk flower from the wreath on

the

> door had blown off and was on the ground.he picked it up and put it into

his

> mouth.I thought that the sucking stage was over.His SLP and his OT told me

he

> still needs that stimulation due to his apraxia and his oral motor

planning

> problem.They said it will eventually go away.Hope that helps.retchen

mother

> of 6 with apraxia.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My son is 2 1/2 and he has never been one to put much in his mouth.

But his occupational therapist actually wants him to put things in

his mouth. She said putting things in his mouth will actually help

with his speech (learning where his tongue is in his mouth, etc).

Just thought I'd mention it.

Alwert

[Guest guest]

,

Graham mainly sucks his shirt when we are relaxing. But his finger and thumb

sucking is When in public.. I don't understand why he is doing it. Our

speech therapist sees it as a regression and thinks it because he is

self-conscious. So she has scaled back his therapy. We were working on

sentence structure and putting words together. Also using the correct

pronouns. Thats when alot of this stuff started happening. So now we are

only working on sounds that he has lost. Also, lately he has started

choking again. He even as a baby would get choked on his milk. He had

horrible reflux. He seemed to grow out of choking about a year ago. But

now over the last week he has been choking again. Also he has started his

screaming again. Is it normal for a child that is having great improvement

in all areas suddenly lose alot of the progress they have made? I really

cant wait for our appt with the Dev Ped. Maybe he will have some answers.

> Hi,

>

> My daughter also started sucking on her shirt and biting on objects just

> about a month ago (when she turned two), and it coincided with her

starting

> to talk more, but also to drool much. I am wondering what the relation is

> between these two... Is it the same also with Graham or ? Also, it

> seemed to me she does it much more when she is nervous or among other

> people aside from the immediate family, could it also in her case be a

sign

> of being nervous or stressed out?

>

[Guest guest]

My son, , used to choke and throw up when he ate. I had to make sure

his foods were soft, covered in sauce, or cut up into very small pieces. It

seems like he has stopped, but I am afraid to test it. He asks for lettuce

on certain foods, but lettuce is BAD as far as choking. I don't have to

worry about other people giving him the wrong foods b/c he seems to know

which ones are bad. He has never eaten a chip or cracker or raw carrot in

his life - not for lack of trying on my part! He just won't eat it.

I know what you mean about other people not watching him as well as you. I

have a real issue with this. I don't let ANYONE watch him unless it's my

sister or my parents. No one else understands that he's not a typical

5-yr-old and needs to be watched all the time, especially around steps. If

he is at some gathering somewhere, I always stay with him, and I have no

problem telling whoever's in charge that he has problems with certain foods.

Some kids have extreme allergies to certain foods and the parents HAVE to

mention it and the kids understand this. However, it would be difficult if

your son really wanted these foods and was told he couldn't have them!

That's hard.

Once when my mother-in-law was here (last year) she offered him a piece of

gum and he took it from her. I walked into the room and asked what's he

chewing on?? When she told me she gave him gum, I couldn't believe it. He

has no clue what gum is and what you should do with it. I took it from him

right away. I couldn't even leave him in a room alone with my

mother-in-law! I was angry - she should have checked with me first.

I know how you feel, is my point! It's SO hard to let them go into a

setting that may be dangerous without you there with them. Well, I'm not

strong enough for that yet. With , it just doesn't happen.

Thanks for letting ME vent!!

~~

> Thanks Gretchen,

> It does help to see other people are going through the same things I have

> another thing that is starting to concern me that I thought we were past.

> Graham has started choking on his food again. He has always been a

choker.

[Guest guest]

:

I personally think that you should pursue this until YOU are happy with the answers you are getting. If that means a second, third and fourth opinion, then so be it.

These doctors are saying that she doesn't need surgery, so does that mean her sutures are open, or that they are closed but not severe enough for surgery? Lauryn had a CT scan, right? So they should know for sure now??

I would book a second opinion, especially if you still have questions, which it sounds like you do.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Kendra

I have a question

Hello! First of all I would like to say hello to everyone! I hope you are all well and I think of this group often. I have been very busy lately and it is hard to catch up with anything rightn now. Lauryn went to the Neurosurgeon and the physician and they feel she does not need surgery. My question is her head is still flat, so does she need a helmet? Should I get a second opinion? Have any of you been this route and gone on to get a helmet? Thankyou in advance. HUGS, For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

-

Glad to head Lauryn doesn't need surgery! That must be a huge

relief. Hope your pancreas is doing better too!

Have you gotten Lauryn measured? I would recommend doing that. It

gives you concrete information instead of just an opinion. If you

are told Lauryn doesn't need helmet therapy after that, I bet you

will sleep a lot easier!

Dane's Mom (DOC Band)

P.S. What's with that cow in Cinci? ...keys to the city! lol

You're in Cincy, right?

> Hello! First of all I would like to say hello to everyone! I

hope you are

> all well and I think of this group often. I have been very busy

lately and

> it is hard to catch up with anything rightn now. Lauryn went to

the

> Neurosurgeon and the physician and they feel she does not need

surgery. My

> question is her head is still flat, so does she need a helmet?

Should I get

> a second opinion? Have any of you been this route and gone on to

get a

> helmet? Thankyou in advance. HUGS,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/31/02 10:41:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, rmanias@... writes:

-

Glad to head Lauryn doesn't need surgery! That must be a huge

relief. Hope your pancreas is doing better too!

Have you gotten Lauryn measured? I would recommend doing that. It

gives you concrete information instead of just an opinion. If you

are told Lauryn doesn't need helmet therapy after that, I bet you

will sleep a lot easier!

Dane's Mom (DOC Band)

P.S. What's with that cow in Cinci? ...keys to the city! lol

You're in Cincy, right?

Hello! How are you? I am getting Lauryn all checked out this week. What cow? I am not in Cincinnati now. I live in Marietta. I didn't hear anything about a cow. I will ask hubby about it. HUGS,

[Guest guest]

,

If the sutures are open and you still have concerns about the head shape then

a helmet may be the way to go. You are the one who has to live with the

choices you make regarding your daughter. The people in this group whose

children have worn helmets or bands very, very rarely regret their choice.

Ultimately the choice really is yours. Good luck with your decision - I can

only imagine how difficut this must be for you.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

,

Good to hear from you again. I would think by the sounds of your email that

you are second guessing the first evaluation. It never hurts to get a second

opinion now, rather than wish you had years later!!! Good luck on whatever

you decide!

' Mom

[Guest guest]

IS it the bottle or the need to suck? My daughter has an obsession with

Beanie babies. She needs to sleep with them too . They go everywhere with

her. Maybe you could just give her the bottle with nothing in it. Maybe she

just needs to hold it.

S.

-- [ ] I have a question

My little girl is 34 months and she still has to have her bottle.

When she turned 1 we tried to take it away and it didn't work. At 18

months the ped. said to just but water in it and she wouldn't want

it anymore. Well she was wrong. She had kidney and bladder surgery

at 3 months and started PT and OT at 6 months. They said that she

just got behind because of the surgery. She started ST at 1 because

she would not eat solid foods or could not drink out of a cup. Last

week her speech therapist diagnosed her with Apraxia. My question

is......have any of your children had a problem getting rid of the

bottle??? I have really tried.....honest I have. She does fine until

it's time for bed. The last time I took it from her we(me and her)

were up for 3 days straight. She would scream until she couldn't

stay awake anymore. Then she would pass out for about an hour or 2

and then start screaming again. This went on for about 3 days and

then I couldn't take it anymore and I gave in. Some people have said

that that is the problem.....I gave in too soon. But they are not

the ones that had no sleep for 3 days. (LOL) I don't know if this

has anything to do with Apraxia.....I just thought I would ask.

mom to Blanton 9.3(ADHD,TS,OCD) Kesley 2.10

(Apraxia,VUR...repaired)

[Guest guest]

Have you talked to the OT about getting rid of the bottle? An OT

should be able to help.

My daughter had a hard time with getting rid of the bottle. I

really tried at year, and I did get her off by 18 months. First, I

never gave juice in a bottle, I only gave juice in a cup. My

daughter wanted to drink juice so this was motivation.

Next, I tried all sorts of different cups. I finally transitioned

to a sports bottle, and I squeezed the bottle when trying to get her

to drink from it. I also used the juice boxes and got her use to

drinking with straw. I would squeeze the box to get her use to

using a straw.

After that, I transitioned to a sippy cup that could spill.

Finally, I transitioned to a non-spill sippy cup. I also worked on

water using a regular cup. I just didn't want milk or juice to

spill, so I used the sippy cups for that.

It took months of hard work. Hopefully, an OT can give you better

advice.

Suzi

> My little girl is 34 months and she still has to have her bottle.

> When she turned 1 we tried to take it away and it didn't work. At

18

> months the ped. said to just but water in it and she wouldn't want

> it anymore. Well she was wrong. She had kidney and bladder surgery

> at 3 months and started PT and OT at 6 months. They said that she

> just got behind because of the surgery. She started ST at 1

because

> she would not eat solid foods or could not drink out of a cup.

Last

> week her speech therapist diagnosed her with Apraxia. My question

> is......have any of your children had a problem getting rid of the

> bottle??? I have really tried.....honest I have. She does fine

until

> it's time for bed. The last time I took it from her we(me and her)

> were up for 3 days straight. She would scream until she couldn't

> stay awake anymore. Then she would pass out for about an hour or 2

> and then start screaming again. This went on for about 3 days and

> then I couldn't take it anymore and I gave in. Some people have

said

> that that is the problem.....I gave in too soon. But they are not

> the ones that had no sleep for 3 days. (LOL) I don't know if this

> has anything to do with Apraxia.....I just thought I would ask.

>

> mom to Blanton 9.3(ADHD,TS,OCD) Kesley 2.10

> (Apraxia,VUR...repaired)

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for responding. No, that would not work....when her bottle is

empty she will bring it to you and says " fill it " .

>

> From: " CHIPPERDONA " <chipperdona@...>

> Date: 2003/02/24 Mon PM 02:19:43 EST

> < >

> Subject: Re: [ ] I have a question

>

> IS it the bottle or the need to suck? My daughter has an obsession with

> Beanie babies. She needs to sleep with them too . They go everywhere with

> her. Maybe you could just give her the bottle with nothing in it. Maybe she

> just needs to hold it.

>

> S.

>

[Guest guest]

Brock,

Thanks for responding. I too have decided not to push her. The same

with potty training. She has no interest in even trying.

>

> From: Brock Roach <chris_brock1@...>

> Date: 2003/02/24 Mon PM 02:46:41 EST

>

> Subject: Re: [ ] I have a question

>

> ,

> I have a 2.8 yo & he still sucks a bottle. I have

> honestly tried also. I also have a 1 yo that sucks a

> bottle. I am trying hard to get the 1 yo to drink from

> a sippy cup so that I can get both off the bottle. My

> 2 yo has apraxia, some sensory problems, and some

> signs of autism. His SLP says that it could be a

> sensory thing(wanting something in his mouth, it makes

> it feel alive!!!), or it could just be a comfort

> thing.

> Anyway, I know how you feel. I'm not pushing the

> subject any-just like potty training, when the day

> comes, then it comes.

> Hope you find what works.

> Brock

[Guest guest]

Suzi,

Thanks for replying. She only gets water in her bottle. At first she

could not drink out of any kind of cup....sippy or anyother. Now she can drink

out of anything. But she still will not go to sleep without the bottle.

>

[Guest guest]

,

Does your daughter take a sippy cup during the day ? My children have always

been late bottle weaners. We had the same problem with the bedtime bottle.

It was easier to wean them from the breast compared to the night time

bottle. We would give our children a sippy cup of water & it seems to be OK

with them.

A child is like a butterfly in the wind, some fly faster, some fly harder

but they all fly the best they can. Each one is different, each one is

beautiful and each one is special.

[ ] I have a question

> My little girl is 34 months and she still has to have her bottle.

> When she turned 1 we tried to take it away and it didn't work. At 18

> months the ped. said to just but water in it and she wouldn't want

> it anymore. Well she was wrong. She had kidney and bladder surgery

> at 3 months and started PT and OT at 6 months. They said that she

> just got behind because of the surgery. She started ST at 1 because

> she would not eat solid foods or could not drink out of a cup. Last

> week her speech therapist diagnosed her with Apraxia. My question

> is......have any of your children had a problem getting rid of the

> bottle??? I have really tried.....honest I have. She does fine until

> it's time for bed. The last time I took it from her we(me and her)

> were up for 3 days straight. She would scream until she couldn't

> stay awake anymore. Then she would pass out for about an hour or 2

> and then start screaming again. This went on for about 3 days and

> then I couldn't take it anymore and I gave in. Some people have said

> that that is the problem.....I gave in too soon. But they are not

> the ones that had no sleep for 3 days. (LOL) I don't know if this

> has anything to do with Apraxia.....I just thought I would ask.

>

> mom to Blanton 9.3(ADHD,TS,OCD) Kesley 2.10

> (Apraxia,VUR...repaired)

[Guest guest]

,

Yes she uses a sippy cup during the day. I have tried to give her

something to drink in a cup befor bedtime but she still cries for the bottle. My

son was easy. I took it when he turned 1 and he never asked for it again.

>

> From: " ricklegg " <ricklegg@...>

> Date: 2003/02/24 Mon PM 08:34:39 EST

> < >

> Subject: Re: [ ] I have a question

>

> ,

> Does your daughter take a sippy cup during the day ? My children have always

> been late bottle weaners. We had the same problem with the bedtime bottle.

> It was easier to wean them from the breast compared to the night time

> bottle. We would give our children a sippy cup of water & it seems to be OK

> with them.

>

>

> A child is like a butterfly in the wind, some fly faster, some fly harder

> but they all fly the best they can. Each one is different, each one is

> beautiful and each one is special.

> ----- Original Message -----

>

>

[Guest guest]

If it's just water it's probably not goint to hurt her. I'd talk to

the doctor, dentist, and ST to see if it is doing her any harm.

If they say it is doing harm, then I might try letting her cry it

out for a few nights. Pick nights where she is really tired.

My girls had blankets that they sucked on at night. They slept with

those until they were 5. They still sometimes want them.

You've won most of the battle if she can drink out of a cup.

> Suzi,

> Thanks for replying. She only gets water in her bottle. At

first she could not drink out of any kind of cup....sippy or

anyother. Now she can drink out of anything. But she still will not

go to sleep without the bottle.

>

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi !

There are so many aspects to apraxia that it's hard to say if what

you are seeing in Kesley in regard to bottle weaning is an apraxia

issue -it's not one that we hear much of to the extreme you mention

when talking about apraxia alone. For an almost three year old

child to not sleep and to cry three nights straight sounds to me to

be much more of a possible sign of sensory integration dysfunction

(DSI). What type of cry is it? Is it a low whiney cry or a high

pitched screaming pain cry? Have you ever had Kesley evaluated by a

neurodevelopmental MD (and OT) for sensory issues and the other

neurological " soft signs " that many times come with the package of

the " apraxia " diagnosis? If Kesley has DSI the bottle may be

providing a type of security that prevents fear ...or even pain? There could be

other signs of DSI too? Have you read the Out of Sync Child?

My (now 6 1/2 year old) son Tanner had DSI except when he was 34 months -like

you I

didn't know it -and had only just learned of the apraxia. For Tanner his one

security wasn't the bottle -it was

the " binkie " (pacifier) I told Tanner that when he turned three

years old his binkies are all taken away for the new babies by the

binkie fairy. Did it work? The first few days it was like you

said -a nightmare ...and the nightmare lasted about a week, night

and day -however the first few days were really the worst of it -and

he didn't stay up all night -just most of them -then it was over.

After that -even if Tanner saw another child's binkie -he didn't

want his -which was a big thing. Whenever we saw a binkie I would

point at it and say " oh baby! " (Around three our kids are at an age

that they do not want to be called or thought of as " babies " ) The

need to hold something in his hand when he went to sleep didn't go

away however -once the binkie was gone -it was something else he

would find -even stuff you wouldn't want your child to go to sleep

with -like a pen cap (!) but just like the binkie -if I tried to

take it from him he would have a melt down.

The AAP says (I know easier said than done once you pass that one

year age and your child's still hooked on bottle or binkie) " There's

still one more disadvantage to prolonged bottle feeding: The bottle

can become a security object, particularly if your baby keeps it

beyond about age one. To avoid this, don't let him carry or drink

from a bottle while playing. Restrict the use of a bottle to

feedings when he's sitting down or being held. At all other times,

give him a cup. If you never allow him to take the bottle with him,

he won't realize that bringing it along is even an option. Don't

relent once this decision has been made, or it could prompt him to

demand a bottle again long after he has " officially " been weaned. "

http://www.aap.org/pubserv/weaning.htm

So even if your child is going to require some security object -a

bottle may not be the best for two big reasons

First is BBTD http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/oral/bbtd.html and

the second (and especially since Kesley is apraxic) is speech development.

Even though there are some professionals that believe it's OK to

give a child time to wean off the bottle

http://www.babycenter.com/expert/toddler/toddlerfeeding/13364.html

if your child has a speech delay or impairment -getting your child

off the bottle is perhaps more important for a few reasons according

to many SLPs. There are also dentists that believe the same. Here

are some archived posts about this (keep in mind that bottles -

pacifiers and sippy cups are pretty much all in the same light)

Sippy Cups Alert

The increased caries risk for toddlers who use the duck-billed

cups, often carrying with them and sipping throughout the day can

cause cavities. Spill-proof cups are more like a bottle than a cup.

These cups are an effective tool for shifting children from baby

bottles to regular cups, but parents should use the cups only as a

transitional device because tooth decay remains the most common

chronic childhood disease-five times as

common as asthma.

Prolonged use of the cup also inhibits the development of

muscles needed for proper speech. You should not to allow your

child to suck on the cups throughout the day. " Sippy cups are great;

however a traditional cup is even better. "

In response to the " sippy cup dilemma " …..

As a licensed practicing Speech Language Pathologist, I have

observed the damaging impact on oral-motor musculature, swallowing

patterns, dentition, and speech/articulation development as a result

of chronic sippy cup use. This is especially true with the " new "

totally spill proof sippy cups that have a stopper and the only way

to drink is to suck. Maintaining a sucking pattern while drinking

interferes with the development of adult swallow patterns and

directly impacts on oral-motor muscle development, speech, and

articulation development. Sippy cups were/are meant to TRANSITION a

child from bottle to regular cup. A child is transitioned from a

bottle at a certain age to encourage proper oral-motor musculature

development and development of an adult swallow pattern. In my

opinion, chronic use of a pacifier, bottle, and/or sippy cup during

this time FREQUENTLY results in oral-motor and/or speech disorders,

malocclusion, and " tongue thrust " swallowing patterns. I also

agree that chronic use of a sippy cup may be one of several

contributing factors for a particular child with speech/articulation

delays. Once a child has been identified as having oral-

motor/speech/articulation deficits, removing pacifiers, sippy cups,

and/or thumbs will at least contribute to increased rate of progress

in therapy. Many parents continue chronic use of sippy cups until

age 3 to 4 (or later). It is not the sippy cup that is the problem,

but in how it is used, and how parents are not informed as to the

dangers and risks of not using it properly: as a transitioning tool

rather than as a " pacifier for the carpet or car " .

Lori ston, M.A., CCC-SLP ; Licensed Speech Language Pathologist '

New Jersey, USA

http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/baby_bottle_decay.htm#In%20response%

20to%20the%20 " sippy%20cup%20dilemma " …..

....Another of Tanner's private speech therapist for over two years

that

we loved and that I talk about was Ortega CCC/SLP who

combined a variety of techniques to help the children she worked

with. She would look at the child's whole body -which is so

important for a child that has apraxia or any other multi faceted

communication disorder like it.

The following is a quote from -who I and so many other

parents and professionals so respect in relation to the sip cup

question. In addition to 's quote about sippy cup use are

two links to her information from the Speechville and CHERAB

website.

Funny that predicted that we would see a rise in certain

speech problems going ahead due to sippy cup use. We do as you know

have a significant rise in children with speech and language

problems, and in addition -it appears we have a rise in the amount

of professionals that agree with what told just a few of us

at a CHERAB meeting years ago! (see below)

" 4. Discontinue all sip-cup use. Discourage your child from walking

around with a juice cup in his/her hand. Drinks can by served in

flip-top cups with internal straws, juice boxes, or sports bottles

with straws on the go. Open cup drinking should be encouraged at all

mealtimes. " ~ Ortega CCC/SLP

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/mealtimetips.html

(and 's suggestions on feeding)

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/feeding.html

Some other links (there are many more)

" Warnings are coming from two fronts: First, some speech

pathologists say children are using sippy cups long after they

should have made the transition to a traditional, lidless cup.

They're still sucking and slurping when they ought to be swilling

and gulping. The consequence: a lazy tongue that produces

sloppy " th " and " st " sounds, at least temporarily.

Nursery-school teachers were among the first to raise concerns.

" What we've noticed in the past five or six years is that

articulation for young children has totally disappeared, " says Gail

, director of the Gingham Giraffe Preschool in Chatham,

N.J. " And I directly attribute it to the use of sippy cups. "

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Sippy-Cups-Slur-Speech12feb02.htm

" As a licensed, practicing speech-language pathologist, I have

observed the damaging impact on oral-motor musculature, swallowing

patterns, dentition, and speech/articulation development as a result

of chronic sippy cup use. This is especially true with the " new "

totally spill-proof sippy cups with a stopper and the only way to

drink is to suck. Maintaining a sucking pattern while drinking

interferes with the development of adult swallow patterns and

directly impacts on oral-motor muscle development and

speech/articulation development. "

http://professional.asha.org/news/ltr020910b.cfm

" The prolonged use of sippy cups has been questioned recently by

nursery school teachers, pediatric dentists, and speech therapists.

According to the February 12, 2002 edition of The Wall Street

Journal, the sippy cup, invented over 50 years ago as a way to wean

toddlers off the bottle and avoid spilling of liquids as they learn

to drink from a cup, is now keeping many children from learning how

to drink out of a regular cup or glass. Speech therapists and

nursery school teachers say that normal muscle development is

delayed because the muscles of the cheek and tongue are used

differently in each habit. Sucking and swallowing do not use the

same muscles as gulping and swallowing, and lazy speech patterns

from the delayed development of the tongue and cheeks are appearing

in preschool children. Articulation of certain sounds is difficult. "

http://dentistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa052302.htm

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