INFANT ORAL STRENGTHENING 0-12 mos

Is your baby struggling with feeding on the Breast or Bottle? Symptoms such as clicking, lip blisters, inability to maintain a suck or latch on breast or bottle, inability to hold a pacifier in the mouth, sore nipples and reflux can all be signs of a tongue tie. But not always! Sometimes feeding symptoms are due to weakened muscles in the mouth (tongue, jaw, lip, cheeks). Has your clinician suggested "suck training" to improve latch? Is early transitioning to solids a challenge for your baby? Gagging? Reflux/vomiting? Food avoidances? Slow weight gain?

Has your baby or toddler recently had a frenectomy to treat Ankyloglossia (also referred to as tethered oral tissues/TOTS/tongue or lip tie)? Are they still exhibiting symptoms or struggling to feed post release? The amazing release providers that we work with will not perform a release until our team of clinicians has worked with baby and determined that they are ready to undergo the procedure. An excellent release provider will also NOT perform a release on a baby without confirmation that the baby is scheduled for post-frenectomy therapy to begin 1-3 days after the release and continue as long as needed to achieve optimal feeding function. A Frenectomy for any age is ALWAYS a collaborative team approach between release provider and speech pathology (SLP) clinician. 

A Frenectomy is not simple a "procedure", it is a complex process and requires a lot of support. Unfortunately, most release providers do not provide parents with the support or guidance needed to achieve a good outcome. Oftentimes, a release is viewed as a "quick fix procedure", and parents are sent home to navigate this on their own. Many of these babies end up in our office weeks, months or years later still needing help because a frenectomy without pre/post therapy is an incomplete process and symptoms continue to progress. 

While a frenectomy addresses "release" of the oral structure (tight/short tissues), it does not improve muscle function nor does it address oral dysfunction, feeding or learned compensatory strategies. In fact, oral and feeding function (latch, sucking, feeding and other symptoms) can often worsen after a release if you do not receive the proper type and amount of therapy required to fully address healing and function. Ideally, each baby is to receive some aspect of Pre & Post Frenectomy Therapy for optimal results. In some cases, a baby needs to be released immediately, but even in those cases they still require post-frenectomy therapy. It is critically important to work closely with a Speech Pathologist/Infant Feeding Specialist pre and post release to improve the function of baby's latch and sucking and prevent reattachment.

If your baby has already had a release, and your release provider did not insist on pre & post frenectomy therapy with a qualified Speech Pathologist (SLP)/Infant Feeding Specialist, then the muscle function and mobility was never addressed and the outcome will not be optimal. This is not considered a full release. Oftentimes, symptoms can worsen or we identify a level of reattachment of the tissues as well. Proper rehabilitation post tongue or lip tie release is a critical step in preventing problems down the road such as speech, feeding, sleep, breathing, swallowing, etc. 

After a release, you will likely be provided with post-frenectomy "wound care healing instructions" by your release provider including specific oral stretches to do with your baby, but they must be done correctly to prevent reattachment. These stretches are considered "passive" exercises by some providers because they do not require any active engagement from baby. It is very important that these stretches begin within 4-6 hours after the procedure and continue consistently to ensure the best results and optimal healing. It is important to understand that these stretches are "passive wound care healing protocol" which is different from Active Muscle Retraining to improve function and feeding. BOTH are required for a good outcome. While the passive stretches are important to achieve proper healing and avoid reattachment, they are NOT sufficient for improving oral function or feeding symptoms. 

In addition to the "passive wound care stretches", it is extremely critical for your baby to participate in Active Therapy Exercises with a Speech Pathologist trained in pre/post frenectomy care. We often get asked how a baby can "participate" or engage in active therapy exercises. Speech Language Pathologists leverage infants’ innate oral reflexes to facilitate and elicit specific targeted oral motor responses, promoting optimal neuromuscular coordination and strengthening essential for functional rehabilitation and improved feeding skills post-frenectomy. These exercises help to improve baby's overall oral and feeding function post release including sucking, latching, swallowing, lingual mobility (range of motion) and strength. 

The best time to schedule your first Post-Frenectomy appointment is between 1-3 days post frenectomy. We typically need 4-6+ sessions post-frenectomy, depending on symptoms and severity, to achieve optimal function and prevent reattachment. Every baby is different. 

These sessions are for established clients who have already received an Initial Lactation/Infant Feeding Assessment with Lactation Spot. Sessions are required for babies who have received a tongue or lip tie release (frenectomy) or are being advised to have their baby's tongue tie released. These sessions are also extremely helpful and necessary for babies who need a little help strengthening their oral muscles in order to feed more efficiently. In some cases, strengthening the infant's oral muscles with oral strengthening therapy can improve oral function and feeding and avoid a release procedure. Sometimes, all we need is 4-6 sessions to meet our functional feeding goals. Some babies progress slowly and require a little more care.

These Infant Oral Strengthening Sessions focus solely on baby's oral motor and sucking skills. They do not address latching or maternal lactation concerns (such as milk supply or mastitis). Follow Up Lactation Appointments are required after every 4 infant therapy sessions to reassess latch efficiency/milk transfer and assure that function is headed in the right direction. 

Allow our professional and experienced team of clinicians guide you through the frenectomy process and optimize your baby's oral motor and feeding. 

INFANT ORAL STRENGTHENING SESSION FEE - $225 per individual session (discounted therapy packages below) **Individual sessions do not include an Infant Therapy Kit 

DISCOUNTED ORAL STRENGTHENING THERAPY PACKAGES

We offer discounted therapy packages at a decreased rate when prepaid. The number of sessions to purchase is dependent on your clinician's clinical recommendation based on the Initial Infant Feeding Assessment. All packages include an Infant Feeding and/or Post-Frenectomy Therapy Kit which includes all of the tools needed for each baby individually.

• 4 session package - $800 ($200/session)
• 6 session package  - $960 ($160/session)
• 8 session package - $1200 ($150/session)

All Infant Feeding & Pre/Post-Frenectomy appointments take place in our office located in Plantation/Davie. **Please note: $100 fee will be added for emergency/weekend sessions.

Sessions Include:

• 30-45 min with one of our highly specialized SLPs
• Parent educating & demonstrating active suck strengthening exercises
• Improving oral motor skills to improve latch (breast & bottle)
• Includes Passive Stretching & Neuromuscular Re-education (active exercises)
• Includes Home Exercises 
• Communication & collaboration with your release provider
• Referral to our providers as needed
• Includes post-frenectomy care instructions (including videos, photos & other resources)
• Unlimited text/email support with our clinical team

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