FEEDING AND PRE-SPEECH ISSUES:
THE MILD AND MODERATELY IMPAIRED CHILD
 
Dates, Location, and Sponsors | Instructor | Course Objectives
 
The workshop is designed to acquaint speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, special educators, and parents with the attitudes and issues involved in the therapeutic management of children with mild and moderate sensorimotor disabilities. This would include those with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, sensory integrative dysfunction, and learning disabilities. An emphasis will be placed on the development of programs that will improve oral-motor skills for feeding, respiration, phonation, and sound play. Although many therapeutic techniques will be discussed and illustrated, this workshop focuses on the overall approach to therapy rather than the specific techniques used.
 

COURSE DATES, LOCATIONS
& SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS

Please contact the sponsoring organization for a brochure and registration information.

November 10-12, 2005 BALTIMORE, MD
Jean Marsh
CARE Resources
I1026 Cromwell Bridge Road
Baltimore, MD 21286
(888) 613.2275
jmarsh@careresources
INSTRUCTOR

Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D. is a speech-language pathologist with New Visions near Charlottesville, Virginia. She is nationally and internationally known for her work in identifying and treating young children with pre-speech and language disorders. Dr. Morris is the director of New Visions, which sponsors innovative workshops for the teaching of feeding-related skills, and provides family-oriented clinical services. Her work includes direct clinical services, continuing education workshops, development of clinical materials and clinical research. Dr. Morris has studied Neurodevelopmental Treatment approaches extensively in England, Switzerland and the United States. She is the author of the Pre-Speech Assessment Scale, a rating scale for the measurement of pre-speech behaviors in children from birth through two years, and co-author of Pre-Feeding Skills: A Comprehensive Resource for Feeding Development and the Mealtime Participation Guide.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Participants will

  • examine current beliefs and expectations regarding the delivery of services to infants and young children with mild and moderate sensorimotor dysfunction.
  • explore the relationship between oral-motor function during feeding and speech development.
  • discuss the relationship between the development of movement and sensory integration and communication skills.
  • consider oral-motor and feeding guidelines from normal development that contribute to assessment and treatment.
  • consider the respiration, phonation, and sound production guidelines from normal development that contribute to assessment and treatment.
  • identify pre-requisite skills for efficient biting, chewing, and drinking.
  • observe the physical, sensory, communication, learning, and oral-motor abilities and behaviors that support or limit a child's readiness for more mature feeding and pre-speech skills.
  • outline the components of a pre-speech treatment program in order to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and young children.
  • individualize specific therapy components for children with different abilities, needs, and diagnoses.