Resources for Speech, Language, & Feeding in Children with Down Syndrome
I've revamped another post, this time on open cup drinking. What exactly is open cup drinking? Plain and simple, drinking from a regular cup - no fancy bells or whistles, not a sippy cup or straw. What should I expect when first introducing a cup to my child with Down syndrome? Learning to drink depends on… Continue reading Open cup drinking 101 (and tips for the sippy)
[Fallacy: "Focusing on one syndrome [professionally] must be incredibly monotonous." (I've honestly heard this comment) Fact: Au contraire! More varied than you can imagine, it has been the best experience of my career. Photo: The first person I met with Down syndrome. My sister April Joy, on the day she came home from the hospital, April 1988 Thanks to Meriah Nichol's… Continue reading 3 Truths for 3/21: Fallacy, Fact, and Photo
I've decided to update a post I originally wrote in September 2010. Since then I've seen more than 200 children with DS for feeding evaluations. Aside from some wrinkles and a few extra-pounds, I've gained great experience - especially from our occupational therapist/feeding specialist Krystin Turner. When assessing feeding in infants with Down syndrome I first listen to the… Continue reading Bottle Feeding a Baby with Down Syndrome
Since my post on pre-feeding exercises I’ve had some really good questions. What do you do for tongue thrust? What about drooling? How do you address low-tone and feeding? Exercises? I want to take time and answer all of these, but today I will focus on low-tone, feeding, and children with DS. First, it is… Continue reading Does low-tone mean my infant will have feeding problems?
Today I interviewed Abbey Kent, PT, DPT. Abbey is the physical therapist in the Jane & Richard Thomas Center for Down Syndrome at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. I am lucky enough to work with her daily and learn from her expertise! Abbey, I’ve often heard you recommend using a small bench to work on… Continue reading Baby Benches: How Sitting Helps a Child Walk and DIY Benches!
