Re: early intervention plans?

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi,

Since is not eating orally, he is not getting the same oral

stimulation other children get. This will affect his ability to

speak. A speech pathologist can give you some things to do to

stimulate his mouth. This will help his speech. Try to get him to

make " funny " sounds, it might help. Also, try brushing his teeth with

an electric tooth brush. If he has no teeth, just use it on his gums.

The vibration is the important thing.

Here in the US, early intervention services are provided at home

(usually). It depends on the city or town you live in. Generally they

provide speech therapy, O/T or P/T therapy and nutrition counseling.

Generally they do not train other in home care givers. They usually

have suggestions for the parents to do between visits which are

usually 1 or 2 times a week.

Last, there is another group in yahoo, I think it is

tubefedbabies.com Hopefully some one else on this list can provide

the correct link. Also, contact Irene Walborsky. She belongs to this

group and was very active in the tube fed babies group. Her e-mail

address is walborsky@... ( I hope ) Hopefully she can

answer alot of your questions.

I hope this helps.

Ken M

>

> Can someone explain what exactly is an early inventention plan for

feeding/speech therapy- can treatment take place outside a

hospital/clinic, in the home or school, does it help train day to day

care givers such as nursery staff? Is this done by specialists or are

parents expected to do all the at-home practice. We have finally been

able to find someone at a dental hospital in Tokyo who is prepared to

take on in terms of feeding therapy. We have our first

appointment Wednesday and I really want to push for some more

regular " practical help " , if possible at home or in nursery since

won't even open his mouth for food in a hospital environment

let along get onto the mouth stuffing, chewing problems.

>

> Are such things possible in the US/UK? There are currently none

here but I'd be prepared to push to get one not only for but

for anyone else (who is less pushy than me) who comes along

afterwards.

>

> is 3 years 7 months, is near 100% tube fed but began

desensitising his mouth around 4 months ago. He can now cope with

some puree but gags when anything goes near the middle or back of

his mouth and he has no idea how to chew.He speaks alot but can only

pronouce about 1/3 of the sounds correctly in Japanese and even less

in English. Is this related to lack of use of mouth for eating? Does

it get better if he learns to eat or does this need specific

attention. His current doctor says just leave it alone, but she says

that about teeth problems too and I just can't believe that will go

away on its own.

>

> Sorry for the questions.

> Debi.

> mom to in Japan

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