The Beacon 2019 | Issue 2 the beacon 2.2019 | Page 12

Milestones & Miracles
lunch time vibes
Can you recall the wave of emotions that flood your mind moments after you dip a warm chip
into your favorite salsa and the chip gets stuck in your throat? Panic, discomfort or fear? Some
of our special friends experience those emotions at mealtime. Body parts that are uniquely
shaped, muscles that are weak, or brain connections that have not yet made strong connections
can cause eating difficulties in young children.
As you can see by her smile, Kelsey loves life and is working hard to love eating. The Little
Light House continues to be an internationally recognized center providing some of the most
highly individualized special education and therapeutic early intervention services to children
with special needs. Our team of professionals and well-trained volunteers present a variety of
learning tools to students throughout their day, constantly searching for the key to unlock every
child’s potential and increase their quality of life. The Z-Vibe® therapy tool is utilized to increase
tactile (sense of feeling) input in the cheeks, jaw, lips and tongue. The Z-vibe promotes sensory
motor development, can strengthen muscle tone in the oral cavity, play a part in increasing
speech production through increased coordination as well as decrease oral defensiveness.
Kelsey is being supported during meal time through the use of a spoon tip that vibrates and has
bumps on it to “wake up” her muscles before eating lunch. This focused therapy time allows
Kelsey to become more aware of her teeth, tongue and lips and build solid brain connections for
the future. Simple techniques like these can have a big impact on a child’s success with eating,
developing oral motor skills and in turn produce verbal speech. All skills that bring joy and
pleasure to one’s daily life.