DocMooreSLP

As SLP's we are frequently asked to evaluate not only if speech-language and swallowing skills are typical but also we are asked on the normalcy of the oral cavity itself. This brings me to my post tonight...oral frenulums! 1. What is a oral frenulum? There are three different frenulums within the oral cavity. All of these frenulums are mucus membranes.  As you can see in the graphic below there is the superior labial frenulum, inferior labial frenulum and the lingual frenulum. 2. What is the SLP's role with oral frenulums? The most common order I personally receive in the presence of an ankyloglossia is to evaluate if the patient will be able to produce all of his or her speech sounds/phonemes in conversation .  An ankyloglossia is congenital anomaly where there is a partial fusion or a total fusion of the tongue by the frenulum to the floor of the mouth. I encourage all of you to read the publication that I have linked below from ASHA that goes i...

Tornado Alley Throughout my entire life I have lived in “tornado alley.” Fortunately, I have never lost any of my loved ones or things because of a tornado. I cannot imagine the hardships that the people are Moore, Oklahoma endured and will further experience.   Though it is not much I wanted to do something for the people of Moore, Oklahoma. I have created this free Tornado Alley Game for education and awareness of tornados. If you choose to download this game please visit one of the two charities that I have linked below and make a donation to Moore, Oklahoma. We are working on the honor system so please follow through – remember that there is no gift that is too small. Convoy of Hope https://donate.convoyofhope.org/okc-midwest-tornado-response American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod60003   Graphics by www.mycutegraphics.com  About Tornado Alley Game This game is complet...

Yesterday my orthodontist fitted me with my Invisalign trays! In this video below I share a bit of my experience. I have a new appreciation for how hard my articulation patients work for me! As you can see I have a bit of a lisp and now after I watched the video I notice just how different even my oral structure looks! If anyone has any suggestions or comments on how to better my articulation that would be wonderful! I'm sure I will adapt in time but as with many other SLP mindsets I like work on fixing it now! I think the challenging part for me is there is actually an appliance in the way of my tongue and that even if I move my tongue into different positions the airflow still travels partially through my Invisalign retainer. Crazy! Leave comments! Another challenge is the pain! Tooth pain is not terrible by any means but the retainer is cutting into my gums and my tongue, thus making it very challenging to talk...which I'm an SLP....part of my job! Yikes! Here...

For several years I have wanted to work with an orthodontist to correct some of my misaligned teeth. I started my journey about 4-6 weeks ago. Today I received a phone that my Invisalign trays were ready! As I was at the orthodontists office he noticed my name badge and asked "What does OP Neuro mean?" I explained to him that it meant Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation and that I was a Speech-Language Pathologist! He then asked about my experience with tongue thrust. I was honest and said that I didn't have a lot of experience with tongue thrust. Still my orthodontist was generous and curious about this issue. He handed me a card and explained "a PhD in your field made these exercises to correct tongue thrust so we give them to all of the patients that need it...read it over and tell me what you think!" After further discussion on tongue thrust, age of child, and understanding of tasks my orthodontist asked if I would take some time and get back with him on an...

The other day during one of my treatment sessions I noticed one of my patients choose to read my book of Word Records for fun. In attempts to relate to my patient's interest I told him that when I was a child that I wanted to beat a word record. That world record happened to be balancing coins on your elbow and then flipping them off and catching them. He didn't believe me! So I told him to give me the week to re-orient myself to the trick and I would show him next week. One of my co-workers was kind enough to video tape my little stunt - 25 pennies - I'm pretty proud! I apologize some of the tape was cut off. Sharing this activity opened so many language opportunities with my patient. For instance... 1. Tell me the steps I had to do to in this hidden talent. 2. How many coins do you think I had stacked? 3. Do you think you could do this activity? 4. What does hidden talent mean? 5. Do you have any hidden talents? 6. Look in the word record book what ...