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Posted by dawnslp
on September 2, 2009, 9:16 am, in reply to "Tongue thrust in a 4 yr. old"
152.26.28.130
Don't you LOVE when Dr.s do that. Maybe you should send the Dr. a note instructing him how to do his job as well. I think he would get pretty upset about that!
What this idiot Dr. should have done is send this child to an ENT. That would be my first recommendation to see if there is a structural reason in the back of the throat for the tongue to be protruding. Find out if the child sucks fingers, thumbs, uses a pacifier and if so, recommend that it be stopped IMMEDIATELY!
If it is a TRUE tongue thrust (reverse swallowing pattern) there isn't anything that can be done at this age. Myofunctional therapy will not work on a child this young and it is VERY difficult. A tongue crib to correct the swallow (put in by ortho or dentist) cannot be put in until 6 year molars are in as it's anchored to them. I know this because my daughter got one last week for her tongue thrust. You are going to have to explain this to the mom and I would seriously consider writing a nice letter to this Dr. regarding your decision. Dr.'s like that need to begin to understand our profession and they are not going to unless someone explains it to them.
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