Early Intervention: Feeding as a Foundation for Speech

We all know the obvious: speaking and eating are accomplished by the mouth. As speech and feeding professionals, we know that these basic functions may seem simple, but the oral anatomy -- specifically the lip-tongue-jaw triad is an interconnected and complex system. Because we use the same systems to speak and eat, speech and feeding typically develop concurrently. But it is feeding that is critical to thriving, and any issues should be addressed as early as possible before looking at speech issues. Once a feeding foundation is established, many of the same techniques implemented to establish a feeding foundation can be applied to improving speech skills.