Jill M. Vought, M.S., CCC-SLP, OMT

What should I/we expect for the first visit with Ms. Jill?

Children

Please plan to arrive with your child 10 minutes prior to their first appointment. It is preferable for all forms and questtionaires to be completed online in advance of the appointment. Background questions will be asked, and we will establish rapport in a playful manner. You and your child will be put at ease right away, at your own pace!

It is in your child's best interest to ensure they are scheduled at an optimal time during their routine as it is important to observe eating and the function of swallowing during an evaluation appointment. They should arrive hungry and well-rested.

If your child is an infant or a toddler, please bring with you some of your child’s favorite foods and non-preferred foods (if any), bottle, cup, straw, fork, spoon. If your child is breastfeeding, we will provide a comfortable environment for you to feed your child while observing the latch, tongue, and swallowing function.

Adults

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early for your first appointment. It is preferable for you fill out the forms online and bring them with you to avoid any delays in getting started. Background questions will be asked, including details about sleeping, oral and breathing habits. Please bring a bottle of water with you. Additional items will be provided to you. If you have any food allergies, please let us know ahead of time. For example, if you have a gluten allergy – bring gluten free, crunchy food with you. Special measurements will be taken of your mouth, measuring strength, resistance, and range of motion.

What is...

Speech Therapy?

Speech Therapy, also known as Speech-Language Pathology, is the study, diagnosis, and treatment of swallowing, feeding, orofacial musculature/function, voice, articulation, communication, receptive/ expressive/ written language disorders. Neurological/physical disorders caused by trauma, genetics or illness can also be addressed (i.e., tongue-tie).

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

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Feeding Therapy?

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) can specialize in feeding therapy, but not all SLPs are feeding therapists. Ms. Jill is specially trained with over 26 years of experience in the evaluation and treatment of feeding/swallowing disorders. Feeding disorders can prevent the process from going smoothly and can inhibit the ability to eat/swallow safely. The goal is to ensure your child is receiving the best treatment plan to build muscle strength around the mouth, tongue function, and overall, improve chewing/swallowing. Feeding therapy can include but is not limited to: discomfort with breastfeeding/latch, picky eating, limited repertoire of foods, tongue tie/buccal tie, excess drooling and even habits such as pacifier use, thumb sucking and even nail biting.

How can I/ my child benefit from working with Ms. Jill?

Speech therapy, orofacial myofunctional therapy, and feeding therapy – she is specially trained in all THREE = The perfect combination!

Orofacial myology is “the study and treatment of oral and facial muscles as they relate to speech, dentition, chewing/bolus collection, swallowing, and overall mental and physical health”

-Sandra Holtzman, Orofacial Myology: From Basics to Habituation).

Oro = mouth, facial = face, myo = muscle

Orofacial myology is a specialized discipline that evaluates and treats a variety of oral and facial muscles, postural and functional disorders and oral habits that may disrupt normal dental development and feeding/swallowing skills.

A Speech-Language Pathologist assesses the structures and the way the lip, cheeks, teeth, jaws and tongue move. This done by watching the child/adult speak, eat, chew, swallow foods and liquids, breathe and even control secretions. A primary goal of orofacial myofunctional therapy is to create, recapture or stabilize a normal resting relationship between the tongue, lips, teeth and jaw. Achieving a tongue position and lips-together resting posture is another goal of orofacial myofunctional therapy.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is an approach that works with the muscles of the lips, tongue, cheeks and face and their related functions (breathing, eating, sucking, chewing, swallowing, speech - restricts eating, speaking and even breathing properly). I’m here to prevent, evaluate, diagnose and treat those who may have any of these compromised in any way.

Does my child/ Do I have a myofunctional disorder?

Some contributing factors to a myofunctional disorder may include:

• Thumb or finger sucking, sucking on clothing/hair, mouthing objects, nail biting, prolonged pacifier use
  
• Large tonsils or adenoids
  
• Allergies and nasal congestion
  
• Tongue tie (restrictive lingual frenum)
  
• Buccal tie(s)
  
• Early loss of teeth
  
• Dyspraxia/Apraxia
  
• Sensory processing difficulties
  
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD/TMJ)
  
• Sleep apnea
  
• Occlusion
  
• Open-mouth posture while breathing
  
• Instability of orthodontic treatment
  

Common symptoms for babies:

• Poor weight gain
• Clicking sound when breastfeeding/ bottle feeding
• Excessive fussiness
• Early termination of bottle/ breastfeeding
• Nipple distortion/ pain while breastfeeding

Common misdiagnoses:

• Colic
• Acid reflux or digestive issues
• Sleep apnea/ lack of sleep
• Nasal congestion/ allergies

What can an SLP assist with?

• Identification of tongue tie and type of tie
• Assessment of oral function
• Pre- & Post-operative frenectomy/ functional frenuloplasty care
• Ways of stabilizing and maintaining a good latch
• Positioning benefits to fit your child’s needs
• Smooth progression toward table foods
• Baby-friendly techniques for building strength and function in a gentle way
• Customization of specific therapeutic techniques to get desired outcomes

What is the link between feeding and speech?

Feeding a child stimulates the orofacial muscles and this promotes the growth of the face. In the same way, proper suction and chewing prevents dental alterations and difficulties when structures such as the lips and tongue are moving. This is fundamental in the production of speech sounds. Many with tongue-tie suffer consequences without knowing the cause. There are infants who have changes in the feeding cycle, causing stress for the infant and for the mother. Chronic oral rest posture of the tongue on the floor of the mouth, some OMDs may result. Adults and children alike can demonstrate difficulties in communication skills from myofunctional disorder (i.e., social relationships, articulation skills, professional growth).

What is Mouth Breathing?

Mouth breathing refers to breathing performed predominantly by the mouth. Using this method, the individual uses very little of the nose to inhale and exhale the air. Nasal breathing humidifies inhaled air and filters out foreign particles, improves lung volume, slows down breathing and increases oxygen uptake/circulation…keeping you healthier!

Nasal breathing supports the correct formation of the teeth/mouth, posture of the head, neck, upper body and even speech sound formation.

Can you help my child with breaking a habit?

Habits are just that, a habit. It’s hard to stop anything that helps soothe anxiety and makes you feel comfortable. Did you know these habits can contribute to a myofunctional disorder as well?

The intensity, frequency, and duration of these oral habits may cause changes in facial growth, alteration of tooth position (anterior open bite), problems in the orofacial muscles, impairment of breathing functions, chewing, swallowing, and may also lead to speech disorders, such as an anterior lisp (placing the tongue between the teeth). Kind methods without negative means are used for all three programs offered:

• Unplugging the Thumb™
  
• Growing the Nails™
  
• Bye Pacifier, I’m Big Now™
  

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