Typical language development consists of parents, family members, and professionals talking to babies for almost a whole year before anyone expects them to produce words. We often put augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems and AAC devices in front of a child and expect them to functionally use it right away. We need to use…
AKA: Tongue Ties, Lip Ties and Cheek Ties Firstly, tongue, lip and buccal (cheek) ties or tethered oral tissue can have a significant harmful impact on orofacial development. It can also cause issues witb sleeping, breathing and eating. Keep an eye out for these red flags. Do not hesitate to reach out for a myofunctional…
Valentine’s day is right around the corner! Here’s some craft ideas to wash those winter blues away and add some colorful decorations to your house, all while working on those love-ly fine motor skills! Heart Card – Great activity for children to work on hand strength, visual-motor skills including scissors and lacing. Materials: 2 different…
With the cold weather taking over Chicago, and the ebb and flow of the pandemic, it’s important to know that Teletherapy is a useful and viable option for all families looking for help for their children from the comfort and safety of their homes. But did you also know that all insurance plans (as of January 2022) are still covering Telehealth…
Halloween is around the corner and we have three fun and festive crafts that focus heavily on fine motor development and sensory play! Each of these crafts has an emphasis on development of pincer grasp, tripod grasp, and index finger isolation. Explore touch senses and messy play with glue, paint, and tissue paper to promote sensory integration all while making something festive or the whole…
It is an exciting time for a parent to hear their child say their first word, no matter when that happens! As a speech-language pathologist, we often have caregivers state that their young child uses words but that they are using the same word for so many different things. Something heard quite often is “He…
Hopping on one foot is a tricky skill to learn. A child has to first be able to balance on one foot but also be able to jump. In typical development, a child learns to stand on one foot and balance independently for up to 4 seconds by age 2 ½! Hopping forward with ease…
Your child is just starting ABA therapy and you are meeting your ABA team for the very first time, but who is part of this team? As many families first begin ABA therapy, there are many questions that arise. One of those questions being, “who is going to be working with my child and what…
Ways to Help Your Child With Memory & Recall – From a Speech Pathologist Perspective Does it sometimes feel like pulling teeth when asking your child what they did at school or what they did during a play date with a friend? Does your child have a hard time remembering a lot of things? As…
