EVALUATIONS

Feeding, swallowing, oral functioning, apraxia as well as speech and language evaluations/consultations.

S.M.I.L.E.S. is available to conduct comprehensive and highly thorough evaluations regarding swallowing disorders and feeding difficulties from birth to 21 years of age. Evaluations combine many techniques to derive the most appropriate and effective approach for progress. Comprehensive evaluations are approximately two hours in length, depending on age, severity, involvement, and tolerance of the child. At least one primary caregiver is required to attend and will be expected to provide detailed information regarding the child. A holistic--looking at the entire child--approach is utilized to provide immediate intervention techniques and training. Also provide follow-up evaluations periodically to assist treating therapist and parents with continued support, direction, and assistance to ensure progress.

THERAPY

S.M.I.L.E.S. provides therapy to infants and children 0 to 21 years of age possessing severe feeding and/or swallowing difficulties-disorders, apraxia, dyspraxia, dysarthria, and speech and language disorders/delays. Multiple techniques are utilized to produce positive results. Incorporate cutting edge techniques such as PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Motor Phonemic Targets), oral-sensory-motor assessment and intervention influenced by NDT (Neurodevelopmental techniques), Debra Beckman, Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, Lori Overland, the MORE program, Charlotte Boshart, Diane Chapman-Bahr, Barbara Massey (PT), etc. Techniques are combined and customized to maximize each child’s gains. Will trial and recommend appropriate equipment to assist with defining needed and useful materials to eliminate costs.

Therapy is available on a variety of levels. Therapy may be as infrequent as 1 time a month, every other week, once to 5 times a week to intensive feeding programs at 2-3 times a day for 4-5 days a week for approximately 8 weeks. As an added benefit, all foods are provided for feeding therapy with the possible exception of strict diets due to allergies and occasional special requests. This reduces the amount of stress and preparation for the therapy session as S.M.I.L.E.S. believes the lives of caregivers are hectic enough!

CONSULTATIONS

S.M.I.L.E.S. is a vailable for consulting with local school districts and therapy programs for a specific child to a classroom. Can develop a plan of action for a child or for classrooms to specific times a day (i.e., snack time, lunch time protocols). Available for ongoing consults to a one time action.

SEMINARS

S.M.I.L.E.S. provides varying levels of informative seminars available to parents and professionals. Brief overviews to detailed information regarding feeding difficulties, aversions, disorders; swallowing, oral sensory motor functioning, apraxia, behavior, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc. available. Will tailor information to requests of group. Examples of groups—expectant mothers/parents; new parents-mothers; SLPs, PTs, OTs, case workers, social workers, educational specialists, teachers, special education providers, graduate students, etc.

SPECIALTY SERVICES

DOWN SYNDROME
S.M.I.L.E.S. specializes in working with families and individuals with Down syndrome and reinforce that it is highly important to begin in infancy when possible. Beginning the evaluation and therapy process for feeding, swallowing, and oral functioning soon after birth, can place your child significantly ahead and assist to stay one-step in front of issues that are known to be challenging. We take a large proactive approach unlike any other available today.

CEREBRAL PALSY
S.M.I.L.E.S. specializes in working with families and individuals with Cerebral Palsy and reinforce that it is highly important to begin in infancy when possible. Beginning the evaluation and therapy process for feeding, swallowing, and oral functioning soon after birth, can place your child significantly ahead and assist to stay one-step in front of issues that are known to be challenging. We take a large proactive approach rarely available.

COMMON & RARE GENETIC DISORDERS
S.M.I.L.E.S. specializes in working with families and individuals with both common and rare genetic disorders and reinforce that it is highly important to begin in infancy when possible. Beginning the evaluation and therapy process for feeding, swallowing, and oral functioning soon after birth, can place your child significantly ahead and assist to stay one-step in front of issues that are known to be challenging. We take a large proactive approach rarely available.