Exciting Evaluations

Today we had the opportunity to hear from a surgeon on how cleft lip and palate surgery are completed. We learned about pharyngeal flap surgery and how an orticochea is made. He also talked about how it can be beneficial to use a nasoendscopy to see the client’s velopharyngeal closure and to see if a primary or secondary surgery is needed. Afterwards, Dr. Crowley and the rest of our supervisors led a class on conducting initial evaluations on a patient with cleft palate. Key components to an evaluation include building rapport, incorporating an oral peripheral exam to identify the structures or pathology that may be affecting speech, and identifying the sounds that the client has difficulty producing. Then, each clinician had the chance to practice the technique that they had learned earlier in a case study scenario.

Read More

An Unforgettable Experience

 

Being in Colombia has given us the opportunity to witness the impact that parent training has on children with cleft palate speech. We have been providing parents with strategies and techniques to practice with their children at home. Within a few days, we have been able to see great improvements on many of our clients. Their motivation and commitment has been inspiring to us all.

Read More

A Lesson About Love

Of all of the things that we have seen, love is by far the most prominent. From parents who travel 4-5 hours one way to come to therapy each day, to parents who are fostering children with extremely involved exceptionalities, to the kids sitting still for, at times, over an hour and working at home later for hours longer, there is the strongest sense of intense love. It would be an understatement to say we love what we do, or to say that it is an honor to be in this place at this time.

Read More