Stuttering

 

Some stuttering can be typical at certain ages and during certain situations; however, if stuttering persists for more than 2 months then it can be a more serious concern.  When stuttering is noticed, the following strategies should be implemented: 

 

STUTTERING

HOME STRATEGIES

 

1.  Create a comfortable communication environment by:

            Reducing the rate of your own speech

            Slowing down your routines/environment

            Eliminating interruptions

 

2.  Add new strategies:

            Slow talking using a soft, quiet voice

            Increase your use of pauses when you talk

            Increase your use of think time when she asks questions or talks to you  

            Allow her to have more time to respond to you

            Increase relaxation time (soft music may help, laughing)

            Gentle comments about how you take your time when you talk

           

 

NEVER FINISH WHAT SHE IS SAYING

NEVER DRAW ATTENTION TO HER STUTTERING

           

                                      

What is Tongue Thrust?

What is Tongue Thrust?

Tongue thrust is the pushing of the tongue against or between the teeth while speaking, swallowing or at rest. The average person swallows 2000 - 4000 times per day and exerts pressure with each swallow. This can push the teeth out of alignment and may cause distorted speech sounds.

What Causes Tongue Thrust? 


Thumb sucking and/or nail biting 

Mouth breathing 

Premature loss of "baby" teeth 

Lack of muscle coordination 

Hereditary factors 

Enlarged tonsils & adenoids

What Oral Behaviors May Be Present? 


Sucks the thumb, fingers, tongue 

Bites fingernails, pencils, etc. 

Breathes through the mouth 

Habitually rests tongue against or between the teeth 

Drinks large amounts of liquid with meals, washing down the food

What treatment is appropriate?
Based on the findings of an evaluation by a speech therapist, specific goals are determined to meet the needs of the individual, including, but not limited to:

Train the muscles necessary for a good swallow and correct resting posture 
 Teach the correct swallow 
 


Teach correct production of sounds to eliminate incorrect speech 


Eliminate undesirable oral behaviors

Inspiration

Articles Published

Here is a link to articles of mine that have been published over the years:

https://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Search/SearchResult.aspx?KW=penny%20bright#!

Simple Activities To Increase Fine Motor Skills For Writing

 Use small pencils (e.g., golf or bowling size) to ensure an

accurate grip.

 Put a J in the upper left-hand corner to orient students

as to where to begin writing.

 Have the child make letters in clay or play dough.

 Have the child trace letters in a salt or sand tray to enhance

the kinesthetic “feel” of the letter.

 Have the child pick up small objects with tweezers (e.g.,

could use objects that represent target vocabulary words).

 Encourage the child to squeeze a squishy ball during

listening activities. This enhances attention and helps

strengthen hand and finger muscles.

11 Reasons Why a Good Night's Sleep is so Important

1. Sleep is restorative for the brain. 

2. Too little sleep can lead to weight gain by altering levels of the hormones that regulatesatiety and hunger, leading to overeating, overweight, and obesity. 

3. Growth hormone is secreted during slow wave sleep. 

4. Insufficient sleep is associated with a higher incidence of behavioral problems, especially attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

 5. Sleep disruption caused by snoring in infants delays their development. 

6. Night terrors and confusional arousals are often made worse by sleep deprivation. 

7. Memory consolidation occurs during slow wave sleep, meaning that the different pieces of what we've learned during the day come together coherently so that the knowledge can be accessed when needed. 

8. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage of sleep when the most vivid dreams are dreamt, is important for the "unlearning" of superfluous memories. For example, when a child learns how to ride a bike and falls off the first ten times, finally successful on the eleventh try, the memory of how to perform the task so as to stay on the bike is the one which is important to retain, not the ones of how to fall off. Unlearning removes the unhelpful "how to" memories of how to fall of the bike, so that the next day when the child hops on it, she will automatically re-enact what she did that eleventh time, and not the first ten. 

9. School performance improves in kids with poor sleep because of obstructive sleep apnea after it has been treated. 

10. Studies using MR spectroscopy to compare healthy children to those with long-standing obstructive sleep apnea have shown that those with the sleep apnea have certain, specific patterns of brain injury not seen in the healthy kids. 

11. When kids sleep well, their parents' sleep improves, too, doing wonders for their ability to function during the day (and maintain their sanity in the evening and night). This may be last on this list, but certainly not least!

 http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleeping-angels/200905/11-reasons-why-good-nights-sleep-is-so-important

Oral health: A window to your overall health

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Original Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dental/DE00001

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Your oral health is more important than you might realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums can affect your general health.

By Mayo Clinic staff Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.

What's the connection between oral health and overall health?

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
In addition, certain medications — such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers and diuretics — can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbial invasion or overgrowth that might lead to disease.
Studies also suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease — might play a role in some diseases. In addition, certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body's resistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.

What conditions may be linked to oral health?

Your oral health might affect, be affected by, or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

• Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
• Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
• Pregnancy and birth. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
• Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes. Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.
• HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
• Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — might be linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
• Alzheimer's disease. Tooth loss before age 35 might be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
• Other conditions. Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include Sjogren's syndrome — an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth — and eating disorders.

Because of these potential links, be sure to tell your dentist if you're taking any medications or have had any changes in your overall health — especially if you've had any recent illnesses or you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes.

How can I protect my oral health?

To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene every day. For example:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed.
• Schedule regular dental checkups.

Also, contact your dentist as soon as an oral health problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.

• See Also

Hand Scheduled
Section Focus
• Electric toothbrush: Better than a manual toothbrush?
• Sensitive teeth: What treatments are available?
• Heart disease prevention: Does oral health matter?
• Whitening toothpaste: Does it whiten teeth?
• When to brush your teeth
• Dental floss vs. water pick: Which is better?
• Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics
• Calcium and calcium supplements: Achieving the right balance
• Gingivitis
• Cavities/tooth decay
• Bad breath
• Dry mouth treatment: Tips for controlling dry mouth
• Dental exam

Related Links

References

1. Brushing your teeth. American Dental Association. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth.aspx. Accessed March 4, 2013.
2. Diabetes. American Dental Association. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/diabetes.aspx. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
3. Dry mouth. American Dental Association. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dry-mouth.aspx. Accessed March 6, 2013.
4. Krall KE. Bone health and oral health. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2007;138:616.
5. American Dental Association. Healthy mouth, healthy body. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2006;137:563.
6. Michalowicz BS, et al. Treatment of periodontal disease and the risk of preterm birth. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:1885.
7. Loesche W. Dental caries and periodontitis: Contrasting two infections that have medical implications. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2007;21:471.
8. Oral health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/LHI/oralHealth.aspx?tab=overview. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
9. Casamassimo PS. Oral and systemic health. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
10. Periodontal disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease: Does the evidence support an independent association? A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012;125:2520.
11. Gatz M, et al. Potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia in identical twins. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2006;2:110.
12. What is endocarditis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/endo/endo_all.html. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
13. Eating disorders. American Dental Association. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/eating-disorders.aspx. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
14. Sjogren's syndrome: Questions and answers about Sjogren's syndrome. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sjogrens_Syndrome/default.asp#drymouth. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
15. Medications and oral health. American Dental Association. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/m/medications-and-oral-health.aspx. Accessed Jan. 31, 2013.
16. Oral health-total health: Know the connection. American Dental Hygienists' Association. http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/7228_Oral_Health_Total.pdf. Accessed Feb. 22, 2013.
17. Coogan MM, et al. Oral lesions in infection with human immunodeficiency virus. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2005;83:700.

DE00001 May 11, 2013

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