Re: question regarding lip formation + general mom overload

[Guest guest]

Hi Roni,

Mathew sounds very sweet! What you've described about his mouth

sounds like what's been described to me by my son's OT as " open

mouth posture " which often is part of hypotonia (low tone) but can

also be caused by other things, like enlarged adenoids. You

mentioned your son has low tone. Is an OT working with him on

that? It sounds like he may have some other sensory issues as well

and a good SI trained OT could help with that too. There's a book

called the Out-of-Synch Child that I like, which explains Sensory

Processing Disorders. Also, some people have recently posted about

using sour sprays to stimulate swallowing in their children who

drool, just a thought.

Good luck to you.

Kristi

>

> at 4 (5 in November), still has 'pursed' lips - you know

like

> an infant. I'm getting a little concerned because it's not getting

> better, he holds his mouth open unless I remind him to close it,

and

> then only for a second, and he's begun drooling, especially if he

> laughs or cries. I'm wondering if this is something that will go

away,

> or if I need to find a real dentist, etc. to fix it. Between the

> speech delay, the overall low muscle tone, mouth hanging open,-oh,

and

> as a result, not pretty eating habits (stuff and place hand over

mouth

> to hold food in) I'm really beginning to feel a little overwhelmed.

> I'm not trying to sound like I want a perfect little man, but

> doggonit, he's got so many hurdles, if I can make a few go away

maybe

> things would go smoothly. He is really talking much clearer now,

and

> especially if you give him time. However, the last few attempts of

> playing with others, and initiated by him, even have been

disasters!

> Yesterday another four year old came over to play, and just

> terrorized the child. He seems to make up for his talking

difficulties

> by playing roughly and not knowing when to stop. He walks up to

kids

> and tries to initiate play but like another bad moment yesterday,

the

> little boy just looked at him like he was an alien from another

> planet, looked at his mom and moved away. I tried to smooth it out

by

> explaining to the boy's mom, and the little boy did try and play

with

> , but only wanted to chase him and do karate kicks

and

> yells. Sorry to unload on everybody. I love my loads - in

> fact, he's the sweetest of my 3 kiddos, lots of hugs, pats me on my

> back, tells me he loves me, missed me, etc. but I am overwhelmed

with

> the conclusion that he's not getting more like other kids,even

though

> his speech is improving, but that the gulf is widening. That

breaks my

> heart because of what life and circumstances will do and are doing

to

> my little cuddlebug. I teach school and I don't want him to be the

> kiddo that no one will play with, that they tease and talk about.

> Sorry for talking so long, I really do want input on the mouth/lip

> thing, just feeling really overwhelmed and yes - sorry for myself.

>

> Roni

>