RE: mouth stuffing

[Guest guest]

Dani -- we went through that also with our 2 yr old (same diagnosis).

It's a sensory thing and not necessarily linked to speech problems

although it can be an indicator of poor oral motor control or weakness

-- my older son did it and did not have speech issues, my younger son

did it and does have speech issues. ly I would look for another

SLP or OT who specializes in feeding issues. (I did not realize that

the mouth stuffing even was a feeding issues since he certainly ate!)

Our early intervention program was very attentive to that and had SLPs

they could refer us to who specialized in that. Yours may have a

parents group addressing feeding issues also. A lot of moms in our

group have told me that their SLPs have not been knowledgeable about

this subject at all. Our speech therapist's practice also has parent

groups and workshops on feeding problems. Check out New Visions and

their Mealtimes catalog (http://www.new-vis.com)-- they specialize in

feeding issues and oral motor issues and were a valuable resource. For

chewing practice, we were given clear plastic tubing -- we stuffed a

gummi bear in one end and positioned it in his mouth for chewing

practice. Also a product called Chewy Tubes, available from the

Mealtimes catalog and other speech therapy products websites (like

www.superduperinc.com; www.oromotorsp.com). We learned to massage his

cheek, lips, and jaw manually (he does not like it but will let me do it

while watching his favorite video -- I sit him on my lap and do it from

behind him with his head leaning against my chest). We use an electric

toothbrush not only to brush his teeth but to give him the oral

stimulation he needs on the inside of cheeks, and tongue a couple of

times a day -- he likes that a lot. We use a small electric massager

(see the catalogs/websites) on his face -- he resisted at first but now

loves it. The SLP taught us how to use a NUK brush (from the same

catalogs) to massage and stimulate the inside of his mouth. They gave

us a list (I think there is one on the New Visions site) of chewy foods

-- we had the same choking problem though so I did not use chewy foods

much other than gummi bears as an occasional treat. We use a mirror

and make faces to practice muscle control; we also do a lot of the

exercises above with a mirror to hold his attention. They had us stop

using sippy cups, and encouraged us to use an open cup or straw. We

found cups with lids and fat straws at the party store -- they were a

good starting point since the straws are hard plastic and don't

collapse. The speech therapy website/catalogs sell honey bears with

plastic straws to train a child to use a straw. To satisfy the craving

for stimulation, our feeding SLP suggested testing him with strong

flavors you would not ordinarily give a 2 yr old, like spicy foods

(curry, salsa), sour foods (fresh lemon slices, sour candies, sour

gummis), and sharp flavors (like Altoid mints). I was shocked that he

readily accepted them and seems to crave the input -- he makes faces

when he sucks a lemon, but he keeps coming back to it again and again.

And we have to keep him far away from salsa -- he prefers it to the

chips! I can't eat an Altoid but he will eat several in a row. We

have now graduated to the more typical oral motor exercises -- bubble

blowing, whistles and horns (go to a party store and start a

collection), etc. The stuffing problem was resolved after 4 months of

these daily " workouts " .

" Responding to:

My 27 mo old son has been diagnosed with hypotonia and dev delay. I also

have just requested a behaviorist to assist with his ongoing

speech/feeding and spec. ed. sessions. Beyond the speech and dev issues

my son does not chew properly and insists on stuffing his mouth with way

more food than he can safely handle without risk of choking. You can see

that his eyes water when he swallows because it hurts. His SLP told me

today that she has no idea how to get him to chew more. She works very

hard to get him to cooperate but to no avail.... "

Sincerely,

Dani (Mom of , 27 mos)

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