Therapeutic Practices - Creative Speech Therapy NYC

What is holistic treatment and is it important for speech & feeding therapy?

Rachael Rose — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:55:41 +0000

What is Holistic Treatment and is it Important for Speech & Feeding Therapy?

“Holistic” has become quite the buzzword in medical spheres the past few years. And though it may be plain to most what holistic care means, what does a holistic provider actually stand for? Specifically. Is it just a an elevated word people throw around to convey trendiness? Is it important? Does it matter when it comes to your child’s speech or feeding therapy? How is it different from “non-holistic” or naturopathic care?

What is it?

Well here is what holistic does NOT mean:

deficient
fragmentary
incomplete
partial
abbreviated
reduced
scattered

Thus, the term holistic conveys completeness. Methods may vary, but what stays consistent from provider to provider, is the focus on the big picture.

“The terms holistic or holism refers to considering the whole person, problem, or idea. In health care, holistic treatments take the whole person into account, not just his or her symptoms. Thus, the opposite of a holistic treatment approach to a patient would be purely symptoms-based approach, and a single symptom or small set of symptoms at that.” – Mayfield Clinic

Because holistic refers to an approach, rather than the instruments used, it could indicate naturopathic (Eastern, alternative, self-healing, etc) methods or more allopathic (Western, conventional, and orthodox, etc). Whether they follow Western or Eastern techniques, the provider can still use a holistic approach. A provider who treats holistically will tend to focus on all the following aspects of their clients:

physical
emotional
spirital
cultural
familial
environmental

A holistic practitioner sees all of these categories as valid, connected, and integral to healing and progress. A practitioner less concerned with holism (treating someone holistically) will tend to focus on one aspect of a person or the symptoms alone.

Is it important?

Marymount University published an article discussing the importance of holistic care in nursing:

helps de-stigmatize mental health care
honors the body’s natural healing intelligence
respects cultural differences and traditional healing methods
teaches the value of preventative health
decreases the use of invasive procedures
sheds light on economic, social and political barriers in health
empowers practitioners to bring their humanity to health care

While holistic care may come at a higher financial rate, garner a longer wait list, or simply be harder to find in a small town, it is worth the effort. Holistic practitioners care deeply about lasting results and the experience of their clients.

Holistic speech & feeding therapy

“Holistic practices are becoming more mainstream because integrative medicine address the full spectrum that makes up being human, giving people a wider reach for care” says, Avalon Malibu.

Clients who need speech or feeding therapy are rarely only receiving one kind of service, or even the same kind of service from only one provider. They typically have a team of dedicated professionals working to help them close the gap of their skills and the skills of same aged peers. Communication between these providers is integral to holistic care. Though technique and method may vary from service to service, goals should be in tune and harmonious for the client to progress.

A real life example can be seen in a client with a speech disorder and dysphagia (difficulty or discomfort in swallowing). This client’s speech therapist will need to:

take into account the support this client has at home for family meals and speech homework
research cultural sensitivities when it comes to menu planning for feeding therapy
communicate with the client’s occupational and/or physical therapist and teachers for sensory and school support
understand the financial limits of the family and how to make the most of the time they can afford (this could mean parent support through phone call check-ins if they cannot afford to come several times a week)
be in tune with the child’s mood and emotional intelligence in a session to provide them with positive experience

This process, though timely, is holistic care. It is all encompassing and leads to lasting results.

Creative Speech Therapy NYC providers are committed to this approach for all their families. Whether a client has a whole team of private practice doctors, therapists, and family members at their side, or a more limited support system – they are treated thoroughly and with care.

Sources

Written by: Jane Wright, Office Manager/Marketing

The post What is holistic treatment and is it important for speech & feeding therapy? first appeared on Creative Speech Therapy NYC.

10 Things I’ve Learned Listening to Speech Therapists in the Room Next to Me the Past Two Years

Rachael Rose — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:24:20 +0000

From the Mouths of Babes: 10 Things I've Learned From Our Clients and Speech Therapists

I’ve had the unique opportunity of working as the office manager and marketing director for Creative Speech Therapy NYC for almost two years. Creative Speech Therapy NYC is a private speech and feeding therapy clinic on the upper east side of Manhattan. There, the highly trained therapists strive to collaborate with parents and children’s teams to ensure the most holistic approach to therapy possible.

A job I fell into through nannying, I’ve basically been given a crash course on speech therapy, feeding therapy, and the dynamics of families whose children need those services. I feel so lucky to have absorbed so much incredible knowledge hearing therapy sessions in the room next to me and speaking with parents and families of clients. Here are 10 things I’ve learned and want to pass on:

1. A therapist trained in orofacial myology can work wonders
“Neuromuscular re-education” or “re-patterning” of the oral and facial muscles may include mouth, face and tongue exercises, and strategies to facilitate proper feeding, swallowing and oral rest tongue posture (Source). Meaning, they can help a child stop drooling, prevent dental problems, improve picky eating, and stop chronic mouth breathing. I highly recommend googling this topic because it is INCREDIBLE what speech therapists can prevent and fix when they’re specially trained in this area.

(See the below pictures for what can be done to correct issues like mouth breathing by a speech therapist trained in orofacial myology and what happens when its left untreated. Click on the pictures to learn more about the individual.)

2. Snoring is never normal
Snoring can happen to anyone now and then, but no one should snore chronically – this includes your kids. It’s often indicative of a serious health condition. It can also lead to poor sleep habits, behavioral issues, and poor diet. Speech therapists are a great resource in finding the cause and helping treat whatever may be going on. They also usually have relationships with ENTs, dentists, and other providers who can help and be referred to.

3. Picky eating is rarely a child trying to be difficult or stubborn
Most picky eating habits result from structural issues in the mouth like a child not being able to manipulate certain textures or a sensory aversion to a certain texture or taste. These poor chewing and swallowing skills or aversions often result in a child’s distrust of food. Feeling unsafe chewing/swallowing, gagging, being force fed, or feeling intense pressure to eat a certain thing or amount create picky eaters/problem feeders. Even if a child matures and develops the skills to manipulate a food later on, the picky eating can persevere as a result of past experiences. A feeding therapist (speech language pathologist) can help them both overcome their structural issues with physical exercises or overcome the psychology behind eating those “scary foods.” Therapists also coach the family on how to properly feed their child and what kind of environment to create. Kids don’t want to disappoint their parents, sometimes food is genuinely terrifying! Learn more about feeding therapy, here.

4. Stuttering is one small part of what speech therapists do
TV and movies had me believing that stuttering was 90% of what speech therapy covers. I’ve learned that stuttering/fluency is more of a specialty and not all therapists are focused on cases of stuttering. Articulation, language delays, social/pragmatic language, receptive and expressive language disorders, gestalt language learning, feeding therapy, oral motor re-education, and so much more take up a large amount of a speech therapist’s case load.

5. A diagnosis is meant to be helpful not a limitation
Pursuing a diagnosis is a personal decision and every family should do it in their own time. On that note, it has been a beautiful thing for me to see a diagnosis provide clarity and direction to helping children live fully and proudly. I’m not a parent and I can only assume that getting a diagnosis like autism or a learning disability for your child can be scary and overwhelming. Remember that a licensed provider’s assessment can simply help them understand why they act or communicate a certain way, it won’t change anything about who they are. It can be an empowering step to mark the beginning of them (and you) learning how to advocate for their needs, which will become increasingly more important in school and in their future career.

6. Kids in NYC are the busiest people on the planet
I’m in constant disbelief of how these tiny humans have such packed calendars. Incredible that they get it all done.

7. Insurance will almost always deny you, but don’t give up
When it comes to private pay/out of network services, parents are willing to pay a bit more to get a higher quality of service. However, these high quality services should not only be for a small select crowd of people who can afford it. As I’ve worked with families trying to get these services reimbursed by their insurance, I’ve seen that with patience and determination, it is very possible to get something worked out with your insurance company. Sometimes it only takes speaking to the right helpful representative. Nothing is definite when it comes to insurance, but don’t lose hope and always remember to be your own greatest advocate.

8. A good therapist will be transparent and collaborative
It takes a village to raise a child and so it goes with therapy. The best providers will want to refer you to other specialists to treat your child holistically (like an ENT or occupational therapist). They will want to communicate with you about your child’s progress and use transparent language to help you get accurate help.

9. The key to progress is consistency
Daily practice and commitment, even for a short amount of time, cannot be understated.

10. Autism really is a spectrum
Autism spectrum disorder is a fascinating and beautiful way that some people move through the world. It has been eye opening for me to see children come in with such different levels and techniques of communicating. Check out this cool article about one way people with autism acquire language.

Speech therapy is a vast field. It is unique in that it’s providers need to be skilled in both creative and data driven work. It’s science and its also personal intuition. I’m so grateful there are people who dedicate their lives to this vital skill and that I’ve been able to be a fly on the wall absorbing all their knowledge.

Written by: Jane Wright, Office Manager/Marketing

The post 10 Things I’ve Learned Listening to Speech Therapists in the Room Next to Me the Past Two Years first appeared on Creative Speech Therapy NYC.

What Does Pediatric Feeding Therapy Look Like?

Rachael Rose — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 20:52:34 +0000

What Does Pediatric Feeding Therapy Look Like?

Pediatric feeding therapy is a personalized and holistic approach to support children in developing healthy eating habits and fostering a positive relationship with food. Feeding therapy is a specialized area of therapy that focuses on addressing a child’s difficulties related to eating, feeding, and mealtime behaviors. The treatment approach will depend on the root cause. For example, a child may have difficulty with the motor movements necessary to masticate food or sensory deficits such as overstuffing, gagging or aversion to the sight, smell or taste of food. Feeding is a complex task that involves all of our eight senses. Imagine how overwhelming this may be for your child if they are averse to a strong smell or frightened of the way a food item looks on their plate.

The good news is, feeding therapy can be creative and fun! A session often includes controlled exposure to different foods, textures, colors, and smells. This gradual approach allows children to acclimate to unfamiliar foods at their preferred speed, alleviates anxiety, improves nutritional intake, and rebuilds enjoyment to mealtimes.

The main approach I use with my picky/problem eaters during sessions is The SOS Approach to Feeding. The SOS Approach stands for “Sequential Oral Sensory,” and is a holistic and systematic approach to pediatric feeding therapy. It was developed by Dr. Kay Toomey, a pediatric psychologist, and Dr. Erin Ross, an occupational therapist. This approach is designed to address the multifaceted issues that many children with feeding difficulties face, including sensory aversions, oral motor challenges, and behavioral concerns. In SOS, we use children’s intrinsic motivation, allow children to move up and down the feeding hierarchy at their own pace, teach that learning to eat can be enjoyable and empower families to take part in the feeding journey.

We get messy during feeding sessions! From an early age, I advise parents to embrace messiness. This allows the full sensory experience – to touch and feel the diverse food textures. Children absorb knowledge most efficiently through play, so what better way to approach mealtime than through playful exploration. If a child’s goal is to progress toward eating crunchy snacks we may use veggie sticks as drums or pretend we are an alien with antennas. This motivates a child to progress through the feeding hierarchy, starting with food touching their hands and moving closer to eventually consuming the food.

I also love incorporating fun tools into feeding therapy. One effective tool is a silicone ice cube tray, which not only serves to separate foods but also presents them in a creative and novel fashion. This encourages individuals to sample a wide range of foods in a new and exciting way. Other tools include decorating laminated pictures, making food kebabs, using vegetable/fruit cutter shapes to cut out the food using them as stamps or decoration. Exploring food during a time that is not mealtime sets up a calm and pressure free environment. These are great tips to carryover in the home environment!

You can also involve your child in meal preparation and the preparations leading up to the meal. Sometimes taking your child food shopping will take the unknown out of what will be prepared for the week. This allows your child to build control and confidence surrounding food. Also, including your child in meal preparation may encourage exploration of novel foods. Have your child cut vegetables with child- safe knives, wear a chef’s hat or set the table. Keep in mind each individual’s feeding journey is different and one strategy may be helpful for one child and intimidating for another.

Feeding therapy is more than just getting a child to eat. In reality we do not “get” a child to eat but help them to learn that exploring food is fun and playful! Feeding therapy is about helping the individual gain confidence surrounding food and improve the relationship with food. We want to create a pressure-free zone where children are safe to experiment with different food textures. Keep in mind that every path is unique, and feeding therapy may employ a range of strategies and approaches!

Book Resources

Stories of Extreme Picky Eating by Jennifer Friedman

Helping Your Child With Extreme Picky Eating by Katja Rowel M.D, Jenny Mcglothin

Tool Resources

Silicone Ice Cube Tray

Kid Safe Knives

Vegetable/Fruit Cutters for Kids

Written by: Siena Cardamone Viviano M.S. CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Speech-Language Pathologist/Feeding Therapist

The post What Does Pediatric Feeding Therapy Look Like? first appeared on Creative Speech Therapy NYC.

Picky Eaters & Meal Prep

Rachael Rose — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:17:55 +0000

Picky Eaters & Meal Prep

In May we partnered with Elia of, Feed Your Sister, to chat all things picky eating and meal prep. Elia is a meal prep GENIUS! She has piles of knowledge and resources for you and your family. She offers in-home services, online courses, and downloads to promote self-care through meal prep, kitchen organization, and healthy stress free meals. We loved chatting with her and adding in our theraputic knowledge of picky eaters to her experience with meal preparation. We are so excited to share that conversation, summed up below (in blog form!)

Preparing meals in advance is a wonderful way to help your picky eater. When food is ready to serve at mealtime, the stress of cooking evaporates and leaves you time to connect with your child and have a family meal. The importance of family meals cannot be overstated. Picky eaters benefit from eating together as a family in several ways:

Developing mealtime conversational skills will carry over into schooltime lunches and help your little one learn more social skills. It will also get them ready to eat at restaurants and in new environments.
Learning self-feeding and utensil use, especially when your child is transitioning to solids, is foundational to their comfortability in eating as they grow. Just watching you eat is a great example for them to imitate.
Mindful eating will become their go-to. Mindless eating, with an iPad or TV to distract them, can lead to worse picky eating and obesity.

So, you have your prepared meal ready to go, family assembled, table set…how can you make the family meal as productive as possible for your picky little one?

Expose them to new foods by serving items on platters and showing them what you’re eating. Even if they don’t eat the same thing as you during the meal, exposure to new food is a great step in expanding their diet. Platters can be a great tool when they are passed around the table. The exposure of seeing, smelling, and touching new foods in a safe environment will help them build up their resolve to try something new! The more exposure the better.
Have an “all done” bowl on the table. This will not only help with mess, but it will eliminate their chance to escape the meal if they don’t want to eat something. They can simply place something in the bowl and move on to something else. You can use the bowl too!
Use dips! If your child likes a dip such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, or ranch, it can help them try a new food by masking it with a flavor they know and like already.
Remember that not all foods may be safe for little ones with structural issues. If your child is struggling to transition to solids, they may need to see a feeding therapist to uncover why. When kids lack the skills needed to eat a specific texture, they quickly learn that food is “unsafe.” Kids spit out unsafe foods and will most likely refuse that food in the future. Parents often confuse spitting out foods as picky eating, but it is actually an anti-choking protective mechanism. Once your baby gains the necessary skills to safely chew and swallow a texture of food, you can safely re-introduce that food into your child’s/baby’s diet.

Our values go hand in hand with the values of Feed Your Sister. We want mealtimes to be less stressful, which Elia does via meal prep and we do it with feeding therapy. But the goal is having a healthy and joyful relationship with food no matter what! Family meals are one of the most important foundations you can build for a positive lifelong relationship with food and eating. It’s never too early to eat as a family.

For kid-friendly recipes and meal ideas, check out Elia’s Prep & Party: Baby & Toddler Edition replay. And definitely add her naked turkey pesto meatballs and miso maple chicken to your next meal plan. Both recipes are always a hit for the entire family!

If you struggle with meal planning for your picky eaters, drop in to the next Prep & Party with Elia. And be sure to follow her on social media to catch all the newest updates to Feed Your Sister

Written by: Rachael Rose, Owner/Found of Creative Speech Therapy NYC and Elia Wolberger of Feed Your Sister

The post Picky Eaters & Meal Prep first appeared on Creative Speech Therapy NYC.

It’s Not “Just Play”

Rachael Rose — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 17:20:30 +0000

It's Not "Just Play"

It is through play that children learn how to interact in their environment, discover their interests, and acquire cognitive, motor, speech, language, and social-emotional skills (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007).

Over the last ten years, ‘play’ has become a huge part of my world and I would not have it any other way. Child-centered play therapy is the foundation of my day to day speech, language, and even feeding therapy sessions. Children learn through play by using their imagination to grow and thrive.

As our world becomes more engrossed in technology, our children are losing opportunities to go outside and learn through experience. As a speech and feeding therapist, I am here to tell you play is essential to your child’s overall development. Child-centered play therapy may look like “just play” but the play is goal oriented with a purpose. Play is built on a child’s interests to encourage natural communication and connection.

There are several different types of play your child may demonstrate such as functional play, symbolic play, and imaginative play. Functional play is when a child uses a toy for its intended purpose (e.g., rolling a ball). Symbolic play is when a child may use an object to represent something else (e.g., a small book as a phone). And imaginative play, is when a child acts out a scenario such as feeding a baby doll or pretending to take the doll to school.

When we engage our child in play, they are developing their curiosity, verbal and nonverbal skills, joint attention, fine motor, gross motor skills, turn taking, and more. Play is a critical part of a child’s early learning process. So next time you think you are “just playing,” remember you are helping a child build foundational skills to navigate their future world. Don’t underestimate the power of play!

Written by: Siena Cardamone Viviano M.S. CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Speech-Language Pathologist/Feeding Therapist

The post It’s Not “Just Play” first appeared on Creative Speech Therapy NYC.

Cancellations Hinder Therapy

Rachael Rose — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 15:35:14 +0000

Cancellations Hinder Therapy

The world we live in is a demanding one. We are each constantly pulled in multiple different directions at once and forced to sacrifice obligations, plans, and money, for unexpected events and complications. And it’s no different with our kids; kids in New York are some of the busiest people in the world! When their schedules start to overflow, oftentimes, therapy steps up to the chopping block and appointments get canceled. But should therapy be the first of our child’s (or our) many obligations to fall by the wayside? There are a few reasons why it should NOT, no matter what the reason for cancellation is. Here’s why we believe speech and feeding therapy should be a top priority for your child and your family:

Financially, it is your best option not to cancel.

If you need to cancel appointments because you’re tight on money, it may result in spending more money in the long run by prolonging the need for services. Sporadic attendance does not lead to progress and will likely result in the therapist having to repeat work done in the past to refresh your child after missing sessions. If you cannot commit to the advised schedule agreed upon by you and your therapist at the time of evaluation, it is probably not worth it to begin services until you can commit 100%. Otherwise, you may become frustrated not seeing progress despite the money you’re spending. Also remember, that every minute of therapy is one on one with the therapist. It’s different from going to a medical office where the doctor often doesn’t spend as much time with your child. The therapist is focused on your child the entire session time.

Speech, Language, and Feeding Therapy are vital.

If you see speech, language, and/or feeding therapy as a luxury and something else conflicts with the appointment time, we would gently invite you to re-examine why you sought out a therapist to begin with. The skills your child is working on in therapy are crucial to their well-being. Communication and physical nourishment are skills your child will use everyday for the rest of their life. Are other events in their life going to be as influential?

It guarantees your time slot and shows respect to your therapist and their business.

A time slot(s) is set aside each week for your child and when you cancel, it is not always possible for us to utilize it for another client. If you’re only able to use your time slot inconsistently, your time slot will no longer be guaranteed and will be offered to someone who can come consistently. Without consistent appointments, it would be impossible for us to support our business financially and continue giving the highest quality of care.

Now and in the future, the practices they learn in therapy will protect them, alleviate pain, and prevent future problems in their life. Services are individualized, specific and consistent with symptoms or confirmed diagnosis of their speech or feeding issue. Therapy can be extremely effective when appointments are consistent and carried over in the home. The more committed you are, the more you’ll get your money’s worth.

Written by: Jane Wright, Office Manager/Marketing

The post Cancellations Hinder Therapy first appeared on Creative Speech Therapy NYC.