As a speech-language pathologist, I have specialized training in treating speech disorders and stuttering, as well as additional advanced education in treating orofacial myofunctional disorders. Treatment for pediatric feeding disorders is anticipated to be offered in late 2025.
Speech Disorders
Does your child have a hard time making certain speech sounds? Maybe there are many sounds that are difficult to make. This is the place for you–I have extensive training and experience in teaching speech sounds to many ages, and I love to make speech therapy fun. I can’t wait to help your child achieve clearer speech!
Orofacial
Myofunctional
Disorders
Myofunctional therapy uses neuromuscular re-education through a personalized oral training program for ages 4 and up that focuses on improving oral deficits to establish correcting oral rest posture (where the tongue rests in the mouth) as well as oral preparatory phase of feeding and oral phase swallow (how you chew, manipulate, and swallow your food). It also can help eliminate drooling, unwanted oral habits, tongue thrust, forward tongue posture, open mouth posture, and mouth breathing, among other dysfunctions.
A myofunctional evaluation assesses nasal breathing, orofacial structure, lingual coordination, jaw-lip-tongue dissociation, as well as oral phase feeding skills. See if you experience any of the signs and symptoms listed below and contact us to discuss your concerns.
Signs that you may have an OMD:
- history of nursing difficulties
- tongue thrust
- mouth breathing
- grinding teeth
- snoring/sleep apnea
- misaligned teeth
- drooling after age 2
- poor oral hygiene
- picky eating
- stubborn speech sounds
- tethered oral tissues: tongue tie, lip tie
- oral habits like thumb sucking, nail/cheek biting, extended pacifier use
- jaw pain or TMJ discomfort
- neck/shoulder tension and pain
- ADHD
- forward head posture
When patients follow through with myofunctional therapy, they often see drastic improvements in the areas of speaking, eating, breathing and sleeping.
Stuttering
If you would like to change the flow of your speech, I’m here for you. I can guide you through the mental and physical aspects of reducing stuttering or smoothing out speech so you feel happy with the way your words sound out loud. I look forward to hearing your story and to answering your questions about stuttering.
Tongue-tie Support
If you are concerned that you or your child might have a tongue-tie or lip-tie, you’ve come to the right place. With specialized training in orofacial myology, I assess the function of the tongue and lips, then provide treatment exercises to strengthen and advance these muscles. After an eval and therapy, we can discuss a tongue tie release (performed by a dentist) or determine if we can remediate your areas of concern with treatment sessions only.
A qualified dentist is part of this team and can officially diagnose the tie with my assessment information. They can perform a release procedure if you and your team decide that is right for you. Treatment sessions with a provider skilled in orofacial myology before and after a tongue/lip-tie release procedure have been shown to result in a more successful release than those without pre- and post-op therapy.
North Idaho Speech & Myo, LLC 