Debbie's Blog
The Oral Motor Benefits of Straws
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 27th May 2016
Whenever a parent asks me what they can do to improve their child’s oral motor skills, one of my first questions is usually: Are they drinking from straws yet?
Drinking from a straw is a ve
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Training the Oral Musculature with Lip Bloks
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 6th Sep 2015
Question: Hi! I have a 2 year old patient (12-14 month old skill level) who has significant tongue protrusion when attempting to drink out of a cup - this is not noted during any other
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How to Decrease Tongue Protrusion & Encourage Retraction
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 17th Oct 2014
Question: I have a 2 year old on my EI caseload, our program purchased a z-vibe kit for him. He is demonstrating some sensory aversion, drooling, and an open mouth posture with tongue pro
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What to Do When Kids Are Afraid of Cups/Straws
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 25th Mar 2014
Question: I have a 2 and a half year old boy. He stopped eating and drinking just before he turned 2. He has an NG tube through his nose for 6 months so far. He started eating solid foods wit
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Transitioning from Bottle to Cup/Straw Drinking
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 8th Nov 2012
Question: I am an OT and a new mom to my 6-month-old daughter. We have just started introducing solid foods, but she drinks from only a bottle. I was wondering if you had any tips for transit
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