Oral motor problems - anyone recommend a therapist in London

[CocoE]

My DS has always drooled a lot and still does at 2yrs old. His speech is also delayed and he's always had problems with lumpy food. So I suspect oral motor problems and am going to try to find a therapist. Anyone been through this and recommend a therapist in London?

Have you considered the possibility that it could be tongue tie? All the things you mention, and more, can be symptoms.

How did feeding go?

My second son also drooled a bit until he was 3 and had early problems latching on at birth. So, sticking out tongue issues. He also disliked lumpy food/certain textures, a nightmare at about 10 months I recall. The GP referred him to a speech therapist locally, we were seen very quickly, and discharged after a few sessions! As he stopped drooling at 3years...and clearly had no speech issues. The GP will refer you, so you don't need to go private at this stage.

I have to add that my son has mild dyslexic difficulties now aged 11 so it may be that early speech issues are linked with that, so I would keep an eye out for that in future, although my experience is merely anecdotal and I'm not a professional in that field so not quite sure what the links are.. His speech has always been excellent, although he has continued to have issues with some textures. He has always liked raw veg though which is something.

Yes, a few people have mentioned he might have mild tongue tie but I thought they kind of grow out of that? He did feed for a very long time when he was a baby, about an hour each time.

Swanhilda - did the drooling stop because of the therapy or just age you think?

We were also by sheer luck referred to a dietician at 10 months as a result of ENT problems (chest infection) (in- hospital referral), and she discussed with me some simple ideas about introducing texture ie: crisps, quavers, meringues, so children get used to food which crunch but then melt in the mouth and aren't put off hard lumpy food. It was a real eye opener because of course when you have a baby you are so determined not to give them junk food, and then the dietician encourages you to give it!!!!! It worked...

So the NHS route might be best so you can consider everything from all angles, as they will refer you to any relevant agency, ie: hearing, diet, HV.. It is probably a mistake to self diagnose at this stage what your son's exact issues are.

No, sorry, it is a myth that they grow out of tongue ties, or that they stretch.

Also, when people talk about "mild" tongue tie, they are often referring to how it looks (and showing that they do not understand posterior tongue tie). It's bugger all to do with how it looks, and everything to do with how it functions.

DS1 went undiagnosed until age 6yo and his problems relating to his ties were numerous. There is a lot more to tongue tie than speech and feeding.

You might want to join the tongue tie babies support group on facebook. There is a lot of knowledge and experience on there.

Thanks. Of course would be best to get assessed from all angles, if only it didn't take so long.

Very interesting Mawbroon, I wonder if indeed my ds did have tongue tie. He has a very slight difficulty pronouncing th and f, but not exactly a lisp. Ds2 was one of twins so at the time of birth early days we were too bogged down to pursue tongue tie issues once he was feeding/putting on weight well. It did take a while, he was very bad breastfeeder for about 6 weeks, faulty suck etc.

OP I think he learnt to control his tongue better after the intervention of Speech therapist. My brother who had birth trauma didn't speak clearly till about 4, although he was v intelligent. My mother took him to a speech therapist who gave him loads of exercises and said he had mild nerve damage to his face I think, very very large baby who got stuck. It certainly worked for him, so I was confident seeing a speech therapist for my little boy. I remember ds2 dribbling all the time, to the extent we had a cowboy like neckerchief round his neck permanently until he was just three. He was the most adorable affectionate lively little boy though, so I don't remember being v upset by him dribbling although other family members always commented

Speech therapist didn't take long at all...3 weeks to refer?

We have been told we have an 18 week wait minimum. I'm looking at private SLT in the interim. I've hear Jackie harland is good.

Oh no, I'm starting to think I've wasted all this time not knowing he might have tongue tie. It's going to be a nightmare getting checked though, given his phobia of doctors...

Mawbroon - how can I find this facebook group. What's the name?

Search for Tongue Tie Babies Support Group and ask to join, admins will approve you pretty quickly.

If it is tongue tie, the NHS will be pretty useless and if they did agree to do anything about it, they would be looking at doing it under GA which is neither desirable or necessary.

Swanhilda, if your ds did have a tongue tie, then he still will. They do not disappear!! Working with a speech therapist may allow a child to find a way to compensate, but the underlying issue is still there.

DS1's ties affected his whole orofacial structure causing him numerous health and dental problems.

Sandra Grosso at Harley Pediatric Clinic is v good.

Thanks, going to see Sandra next week. Unfortunately all my research on this issue has made me realise my DD also has a definite lip tie and potentially tt as well!

Lip ties rarely come without tongue ties (usually posterior), so you are probably right.

I would seriously give the NHS a body swerve on this. If they even agreed to do anything, they would put him under GA. This is neither necessary or desirable.

Look up Dr Levinkind in eAst Finchley. He is a paed dentist who trained with leading expert Dr Kotlow and lasers tongue and lip ties without GA.

Thanks Mawbroon. I have an appointment tomorrow for my DD. Is this who you used?

No, we went to John Roberts in Huddersfield (also a dentist, also trained with Dr Kotlow), but he only does under 1s and over 6s the last I heard.

Dr Levinkind is very highly recommended on the facebook group.

You have an appointment tomorrow? With Dr L? or have I misunderstood?

Yes with Dr Levinkind. Also going to see Dr Helen Caulfield in a couple weeks. My DC are costing a fortune! Luckily, first consultation with Sandra Grosso covered by insurance.

Good luck, I hope it goes well!

How did you get on?