Nurture Well serves all areas of Speech Language Pathology, but specializes in the following:
Feeding Disorders and Therapy
Feeding disorders can affect many aspects of a child’s eating experience and may or may not involve difficulties with swallowing. A Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) is defined as “impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction” (Goday et al., 2019).
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Children with PFD may have challenges related to oral sensory processing and may show signs such as refusing age-appropriate foods or liquids, eating only a limited variety or amount of food, displaying disruptive behaviors during meals, struggling to develop expected feeding skills, difficulty using appropriate feeding tools, or experiencing less-than-optimal growth.
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As a Feed the Peds® trained therapist, I believe in a collaborative, whole-team approach. I’m always happy to partner with pediatricians, IBCLCs, schools, occupational therapists, and other professionals involved in your child’s care.
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The primary goals of feeding therapy are to support safe, efficient, and adequate nutritional intake while helping your child develop the skills needed for confident, age-appropriate eating. Therapy focuses on using evidence-based strategies to promote swallowing safety, build feeding skills, and create positive mealtime experiences in a natural, supportive environment.
Tongue Ties and Myofunctional Disorders
Tethered Oral Ties (TOTs) are physical differences in the lip, cheek, or tongue frenum present from birth. These restrictions can limit range of motion and contribute to functional challenges. TOTs may impact feeding, swallowing, speech, craniofacial growth, and even breathing—sometimes causing nasal breathing during sleep. To learn more, review the signs and symptoms listed in our resources section to identify potential red flags.
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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) occur when typical oral and facial movement patterns are disrupted. Abnormal patterns in the orofacial complex can lead to a variety of issues, such as noxious oral habits, open-mouth posture, or forward tongue-thrust swallowing. Addressing OMDs through Myofunctional Therapy can help improve nasal breathing, speech sound placement, oral rest posture, and proper handling and swallowing of saliva, liquids, and solids. Therapy can also reduce non-nutritive sucking habits and provide many additional oral health benefits.
Speech/Language Disorders and Therapy
Speech is how we produce the sounds in words. Children or adults with speech disorders may have trouble saying sounds clearly, a hoarse or raspy voice, or may repeat or pause sounds when speaking (such as stuttering).
Language is how we use words to share ideas and communicate our needs. A language disorder can make it harder to understand others, express thoughts, read, or write.
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At Nurture Well, we provide speech and language therapy for all ages. Our assessments and treatments are personalized to meet each individual’s needs, helping them communicate more clearly, confidently, and effectively in everyday life.
Parent Coaching
This service is designed for parents or caregivers who want a dedicated 1:1 session to discuss their child’s communication. Maybe your child doesn’t need traditional speech therapy or a full evaluation, but you want guidance on how to support their language and communication at home.
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During this session, we’ll review typical developmental milestones, address any concerns about your child’s progress, and provide strategies to foster communication in your everyday routines. By the end of our time together, you’ll have your questions answered, a personalized plan for your child, and recommendations for any next steps.
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Our goal is to empower you as a parent to support your child’s communication development in a natural, confident, and informed way.
IEE Services
If your child is being evaluated or re-evaluated for Special Education, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). This means you can have your child evaluated by a qualified professional who is not employed by the school, at public expense, if you disagree with the school’s evaluation.
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In some cases, the school may request a due process hearing to show that their evaluation was appropriate. If the ruling supports the school’s evaluation, you can still pursue an IEE, but it would be at your own expense.
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The results of any IEE must be considered by the school when making decisions about your child’s Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides guidance and protections regarding IEEs to ensure parents have a voice in their child’s education.