[tri-med] Re: Chewing?

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Wendi<mailto:wendijo24@xxxxxxxxx> 
  To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:34 AM
  Subject: [tri-med] Chewing?


  Anyone have any suggestions on how to teach a kiddo how to chew?  We've had 
numerous speech therapists, who've tried different things, but none seem to 
really know what to do.  Jackson will hold crackers or corn puffs, etc, in his 
mouth until they dissolve and then swallow.  If there's a bit he can't manage, 
he'll gag and throw up, or kick it back out with his tongue.  



  Wendi,
  Is it more of a chewing issue or swallowing issue?  When Morgan was small, 
probably about Jackson's age we did a technique called "icing."  I think there 
is a more technical name for it, but I can't think of it right now.  Basically 
what it is, is an instrument that looks like a dental mirror on a long handle, 
only it is an itsy bitsy mirror.  You put the mirror end in ice and let it get 
real cold.  Then you carefully put it in his mouth and to the back of his 
throat, right along the side so he doesn't gag, then you gently rub up and 
down.  Put it back on ice and do the other side.  You do it for however long 
the therapist tells you to do it.  We had a speech therapist working with us on 
this and she showed us the proper technique.  Otherwise, we also did the things 
you mentioned like chewy tube, licorice, etc.  "What matters is not the 
duration of your life, but the donation of it.  It doesn't matter how long you 
live, but how you live."     
  Rick Warren

  Holly -- wife of Mike
   mom of Morgan (10 yrs. old) unbalanced translocation resulting in partial 
t18q and partial monosomy 9p
  grandma to William Max
                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

Other related posts: