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Tagged "speech therapy exercise"

Ask A Therapist: Horn blowing for a 3-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Posted by Deborah Grauzam on

Hello,

 

I'm hoping for some advice. My 3 year old ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) son is doing TalkTools through our SLT. He couldn't blow at all to start with so we taught him using a water flute first, now he has gone onto Horn #1 but he can't make a sound. His neurotypical twin sister can't either so I'm wondering if his lungs are maybe too small to be able to use this horn? (He is small - more the size of a two year old.) Our SLT said just keep trying but I'm worried it will put him off blowing as he won't be getting any noise feedback like he did with the water flute.

 

Thanks,

 

Claire

 picture1

Hi Claire,

I think I would continue working on the horn as your therapist recommended but I would also try using the Pre-Hierarchy Horn while bouncing on a therapy or yoga ball and providing abdominal pressure. This horn is extremely easy to blow and with the abdominal pressure and bouncing I feel you would be more likely to get a sound, which would be rewarding for your son. I do not think the lung size is the issue but that is not really a question I can answer.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.  

We are here and happy to help.

Thanks,

Liz

 

Elizabeth Smithson, MSP, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist who has over 10 years of professional experience working with infants, children, adolescents and adults. She earned her Master of Speech Pathology at the University of South Carolina. Liz is also a Level 5 TalkTools® Trained Therapist. She has received specialized training in Oral Placement Therapy, Speech, Feeding, Apraxia, Sensory Processing Disorders, and PROMPT©. Liz works with clients with a wide range of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She works through her own private practice Elizabeth Smithson Therapy, LLC in the home setting and in the TalkTools® office in Charleston, SC.

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Ask A Therapist: Sound production roadblock

Posted by Deborah Grauzam on

Hello therapists,

 

My daughter has been working on TalkTools program since she was 3 months old. She bites well on chewy tubes (red and yellow), does her straw drinking and cup drinking. Here are my few questions:

 

1) My daughter seems to be drinking well from cup and does horn exercise well, but we have a hard time translating the horn exercise to "m" sound. Do you have any advice to encourage the "m" sound?

 

2) We feel like we are reaching a roadblock with her exercise because we cannot get her to make sounds that we want, i.e.: "mmm," "me," "moo," etc. She would round her lip but has a hard time saying "wooo" or "oooo". Is there any exercise we should work on to help with making those sounds?

 

Thanks a lot, we love your program a lot and hope to hear from you!

 

Jessie

 

Hi Jessie,

Thank you for your questions. I would try the Apraxia Shapes. They are great. They will help you with exactly what you were describing in both your questions. I believe that they will be able to bridge the gap for you. There is a video that you can watch to show you exactly how to use them and instructions that come with the tools.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am happy to help anyway I can.

Have a great day.

Thanks,

Liz

 

Elizabeth Smithson, MSP, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist who has over 10 years of professional experience working with infants, children, adolescents and adults. She earned her Master of Speech Pathology at the University of South Carolina. Liz is also a Level 5 TalkTools® Trained Therapist. She has received specialized training in Oral Placement Therapy, Speech, Feeding, Apraxia, Sensory Processing Disorders, and PROMPT©. Liz works with clients with a wide range of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  She works through her own private practice Elizabeth Smithson Therapy, LLC in the home setting and in the TalkTools® office in Charleston, SC.

Read more →