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Connections Speech & FeedingConnections Speech & Feeding was founded by Laura Sawers, a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric communication, feeding, and swallowing.
Services
What do Speech-Language Pathologists do?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are health care professionals with clinical training and educational background in speech production, language understanding and expression, stuttering, voice health and swallowing. They assess all kinds of communication difficulties as well as feeding and swallowing difficulties. Click here to learn more.
Connections Speech and Feeding offers support in:
• Feeding and Swallowing
• Speech Sounds
• Understanding and Use of Language
About
Who We Are
Connections Speech & Feeding was founded by Laura Sawers, a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric communication, feeding, and swallowing. Laura graduated in 2010 with a M.Sc. in Speech-Language Pathology from Western Kentucky University. She is licensed with the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and certified with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
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FEEDING & SWALLOWING
Feeding includes difficulty bringing food and liquid to the mouth and difficulty preparing to suck, chew or swallow it (e.g. difficulty keeping the lips closed so food and liquid stays in the mouth and can be sucked, chewed and swallowed). Swallowing Disorders involve difficulties in the act of swallowing, or moving food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. Treatment of swallowing disorders focuses on preventing choking and food or liquid entering the airway or lungs.
We offer in-home assessment and support of infant feeding, transition to solids, and beyond.
Prenatal Feeding Consultation
May include individualized education regarding infant feeding and the benefits of breastfeeding, review of different infant feeding options, what to expect feeding your newborn, orientation to your feeding supplies, and development of an individualized feeding plan for your family.
Assessment
For infants, a feeding may be observed at breast or bottle with a focus on the infant’s skills, evaluating feeding enjoyment, safety, and efficiency. In the case of some breastfeeding difficulties (such as supply, pain with feeding, pumping), referral to a lactation consultant or other medical practitioner may be needed.
Support
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SPEECH
Articulation disorders involve difficulties in producing the sounds of words. Sounds may be substituted, left off, added or changed. Some common sound substitutions include saying, “wabbit” for “rabbit” or “sink” for “think”.
We offer in-home speech sound assessment and support.
Assessment
May begin with discussion of medical and developmental history and family concerns and goals. We may complete a screener of your child’s speech sounds, listen to your child in conversation, check the structures and movement of your child’s face and mouth.
Support
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Language
Language delays and disorders include conditions affecting the use and/or understanding of verbal, non-verbal and written communications. More specifically: difficulties in communicating a person’s thoughts or needs in words and sentences, and difficulties in understanding communication.
We offer in-home language assessment and support.
Assessment
May begin with discussion of medical and developmental history and family concerns and goals. This may include a parent questionnaire or checklist and observation of your child interacting in their natural environment. We may record and analyze a language sample, read and talk about stories, and engage your child in play. Formal standardized language assessment and reporting are not provided by Connections Speech and Feeding at this time.
Support
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Language
Language delays and disorders include conditions affecting the use and/or understanding of verbal, non-verbal and written communications. More specifically: difficulties in communicating a person’s thoughts or needs in words and sentences, and difficulties in understanding communication.
We offer in-home language assessment and support.
Assessment
Support
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