Tara L. Koker-Noia, MS, CCC-SLP, Cincinnati Ohio Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in feeding, swallowing, oral dysfunction, Down syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Asperger Syndrome and genetic disorders.

MISSION

S.M.I.L.E.S.'s mission is to ensure your child’s happiness by providing them with the necessary skills to build a successful future.

S.M.I.L.E.S strives to educate parents and professionals in identification of difficulties and disorders related to feeding, swallowing, and oral functioning, apraxia, speech and language difficulties. We provide comprehensive, informative evaluations to correctly guide caregivers on the path of lasting success.

S.M.I.L.E.S. believes that the parents/primary caregiver is the expert on their child and all information provided by them is vitally important in any treatment being successful. We believe in working in a relaxed comfortable environment and attire.

HISTORY

S.M.I.L.E.S. was formed in September of 2003 by Owner/Founder Tara Koker-Noia out of a need for pediatric speech-language pathology services dealing with disorders related to feeding, swallowing, oral dysfunction, apraxia, speech and language difficulties in the Greater Cincinnati, Tri-State area. Tara attended Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Illinois where she obtained an Associates of Arts degree in 1993. Tara then enrolled in the Communication Disorders and Sciences program at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. From there she obtained her bachelors degree in 1995 and her masters in 1997. Tara was awarded a Certificate of Clinical Competence in May of 1998. Since she graduated, Tara aggressively continues her pursuit of knowledge and cutting edge, holistic techniques through seminars, workshops, and in-services. Tara belongs to ASHA (American Speech-Language and Hearing Association) and OSLHA (Ohio Speech-Language Hearing Association) and is a member of Special Interest Division 13 for Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders through ASHA. Tara has also received 2 prestigious, coveted ACE (Award for Continuing Education) awards from ASHA which recognizes those who far exceed the requirements for continued educational training. Tara currently holds licenses in OH, NY, and MO all in good standing. She has worked in every available setting to provide services to individuals across the entire spectrum from birth to demise and several positions were held concurrently.

COMPANY PROFILE

S.M.I.L.E.S. treats the entire child, not just the specific issue as everything is a building block. We embrace learning from other professionals and parents and love teaching them as well. We have worked closely with pediatricians, gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, primary care physicians, Doctors of Osteopathy, physical therapists and assistants, occupational therapists and assistants, vision specialists, to name a few. In order to ensure the child has the best possible care, we will also refer to dentists, pulmonologists, orthodontists, cardiology, etc. One of our philosophies in lasting success is that we all have to work together closely for the betterment of each patient.

Overall, S.M.I.L.E.S. seeks out and welcomes very difficult situations and challenging medical issues. We thrive on assisting infants and children that puzzle other professionals. We continue to seek education through workshops, conferences, meetings, and research to provide the best services possible for your child.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

PROMPT certification awarded January, 2007
PROMPT certification project January-November, 2006
Pediatric Dysphagia—Management of the Whole Child, October 19, 2005
Advanced Pediatric Dysphagia-Interactive Forum, July 17, 2005
The Third Patient Education Conference for Eosinophilic Disorders July 16, 2005
Inservice: Kinesio Taping, April 2005
Pediatric Dysphagia Series: An Interdisciplinary Approach, October 8 & 9, 2004
Practical Procedures to Generate Speech Development, March 25-26, 2004
Developing Oral-Motor and Feeding Skills in Young Children with Down Syndrome, March 19, 2004
PROMPT: Bridging to Technique, March 12-14, 2004
Beckman Assessment and Intervention, July 18-19, 2003
PROMPT Level 1: Assessment and Technique-audit, June 11--13, 2003
Pediatric Dysphagia: Evaluation and Treatment Protocols, June 1-2, 2002
PLAY Training Module for Autistic Children in-service, June, 2002
Sensory Integration: Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment, in-service, May, 2002
Swallowing, the Mouth, and More, by St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, April 3-4, 2002
Voice: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment Procedures in-service, March, 2002
Fluency: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment Procedures in-service, February, 2002
ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE), May 1, 2001
Why Won't a Child Eat? Beyond the Mouth, by St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, April 4-5, 2001
Advances in Feeding, Swallowing, and Growth: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment,
October 27-28, 2000 by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
PROMPT Level I: Assessment and Technique, April 13-15, 2000
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), March 24-25, 2000
Advance Topics in Assessment and Treatment of Dysphagia in Infants and Toddlers,
February 27, 2000
Wolf Training and Programming in-service, November, 1999
DynaVox/Dynamite Programming and Use Training, July, 1999
Practical Applications of Sensory Integration Principles, June 4-5, 1999
AAC in the Big Apple: Engineering Training Environments for Adolescents and Adults, May 1999
Attended ISHA Conference 1996
Attended ASHA Conference 1995

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Infant-Toddler Feeding Issues/ Techniques — DSAGC Parent Group, July 2007
Cincinnati Apraxia Parent Group: General info to PROMPT, April 2007
Second instructor for Introduction to PROMPT course, April 20-22, 2006
Guest Lecturer on Apraxia — Miami University, April 2006
Cincinnati Apraxia Parent Group: General info to PROMPT, March 2006
Toddler to school Age/Adult Feeding Techniques — DSAGC Early Matters Parent Group,
February 2006
PROMPT Overview: Northern Kentucky Apraxia Parent Group, February 2006
Feeding, swallowing, oral motor development from birth to 3 years in children with Down Syndrome for DSAGC Early Matters parent group October, 2005
Cincinnati Apraxia Parent Group: General info to PROMPT, March 2005
Guest Lecturer on Apraxia and PROMPT technique — Miami University, October 2004
Infant to Toddler Feeding Techniques — DSAGC Parent Group, January, 2004
Introduction to Oral Sensory Motor and Feeding Strategies and Techniques, October, 2003

ADMINISTERED & INSTRUCTED INSERVICE TRAININGS

St. Rita's Preschool Apraxia class: Assist with program development April 2007
St. Rita's Sign and Say Apraxia classroom: Assist with program development, Feb. 2007
St. Rita's Sign and Say Apraxia classroom: Assist with program development, Sept 2006
St. Rita's Sign and Say Apraxia classroom: Assist with program development, Oct. 2005
PROMPT: Overview of Evaluation and Treatment, Jan, 2002; March, 2002; June, 2002
Oral Motor Assessment and Techniques, April, 2002; July, 2002
Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing: Diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment, Jan, 2002; Feb, 2002