Re: Getting the Chewing down

[Guest guest]

Colleen-

does your son like anything like applesauce or yogurt - we had a dickens of a

time getting josh to chew also but if we " desensitized " the hard stuff with

something smooth that he liked, then he got the idea (use small pieces of the

hard stuff to avoid choking, though). now he chews crackers all the time (it's

his favorite snack - he'd eat a whole roll of Ritz if we let him!) and hates

sweet stuff except his applesauce - we still use that at meal time, figuring

it's a good way to get some of the " 5-a-day " into him! Good luck.

Sherry

colleen <seanmymiracle@...> wrote:

Does anyone have any insight or ideas on how to get my 4 yr. old to

learn to chew. He has oral dyphasia as well as oral apraxia and

severe verbal apraxia. We are working with our speech path using a

bit of a cracker and pressing it down on his molars to let him get

that sensation of the crunching and and sound of the crunching. Using

the Nuk brush as well. The acceptance of texutred food is starting to

come along, but no actual chewing yet. Keep in mind he was a micro-

preemie (just over 1 1/2 pounds at birth) developed a severe oral

aversion (due to intubation 5 separate times, deep suctioning, and

had to be on oxygen for almost 2 years). The majority of the aversion

has subsided thank goodness, but he is still very sensative when it

comes to his mouth and when anything dry goes in it. He's smart as a

whip now and loves running around playing, but the feeding issues are

still present. Any ideas would be soooooooooooo appreciated! Thanks

so much....this site is amazing!

colleen

[Guest guest]

Colleen,

We also have feeding issues with my son. To help him learn to chew, we have

used food wrapped in toole (I have actually gotten the toole that is already

cut into circles for wedding rice and cut them diagnolly (sp?) and wrapped food

in there). This way, learns to chew without the fear of the food,

although the flavor comes through the little holes. I know that their is an

actually product that does the same thing ( I can't think of the name) but the

problem I found with it is that it has a handle so you can't really wrap the

food

and it is big so it is difficult to get it at his molars...the toole just

twists into any size " ball " around the food...so it is easy to maneuver. We have

also used the Ark chewy which is different from the nuk brush to help with

chewing...good luck...

Sincerely,

Heidi

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your response, Heidi. I actually do have the Ark Grabber and that

store bought product that has the mesh to put the food in. It is quite difficult

to clean and the handle is pretty big as well. I will try your idea as well. I

really can't wait for my son to be able to chew and eat independently. And of

course, I really cannot wait for him to start talking. Keep the faith and it

will happen, that is what I tell myself. Thank you again and if you have any

other ideas for me, please share them!

colleen

Heidila419@... wrote:

Colleen,

We also have feeding issues with my son. To help him learn to chew, we have

used food wrapped in toole (I have actually gotten the toole that is already

cut into circles for wedding rice and cut them diagnolly (sp?) and wrapped food

in there). This way, learns to chew without the fear of the food,

although the flavor comes through the little holes. I know that their is an

actually product that does the same thing ( I can't think of the name) but the

problem I found with it is that it has a handle so you can't really wrap the

food

and it is big so it is difficult to get it at his molars...the toole just

twists into any size " ball " around the food...so it is easy to maneuver. We have

also used the Ark chewy which is different from the nuk brush to help with

chewing...good luck...

Sincerely,

Heidi