You have 7 seconds to make a first impression! Within the first 7 seconds, people decide if they want to hire you or date you or even be your friend. That’s fast! When you make a new acquaintance, you’d better be on your toes; that means have an engaging smile, clear speech, direct eye contact and appropriate social etiquette.
If you met 11-year-old Gunner today, your first impression would be positive. He is the kid teachers name as most likely to succeed and peers elect as president. He gives the impression of an articulate, disciplined person who excels academically and athletically. He presents as a thoughtful, kind person who is a wise confidante and devoted friend. This is a different Gunner from the one I met a year ago!
Gunner was a Funny Looking Kid
He didn’t present as a high achiever. His toneless lips hung two inches apart. The weight of his open lips pulled his cheeks and eyelids down, giving him a dull, drowsy appearance. His smile revealed huge gaps in his mouth where teeth were missing. His tongue protruded between his sparse teeth.
Although Gunner’s untoned facial muscles were unflattering to his appearance, the most glaring problem was his speech. He spoke like a toddler – distorting every one of the 21 different ‘r’s. He also mispronounced other sounds with a sloppy lateral lisp. With so many distortions, Gunner’s speech was clear to me only 70% of the time. By age 3, we typically understand children’s speech 80% of the time. At Gunner’s age, by 5th grade, we should understand 98%… exactly what we expect of an adult.
His mother was sick with worry. Gunner had been in speech therapy at school since age 6 with little to no success. Her intelligent, articulate, confident son was beginning to avoid speaking situations and new social interactions. He was becoming fearful of being ridiculed and misunderstood.
Gunner’s medical history clarified the problem. He was a thumb sucker until age 4; a habit which pushed his teeth out of alignment and kept his tongue from resting up on his palate where it belonged. Between his chronic allergies and ear infections, he had suffered from frequent respiratory problems and evolved into an open-mouth breather. To address his breathing problems, his tonsils and adenoids had been removed, but he was still “constantly stuffed up”.
His toneless tongue was dysfunctional for swallowing and speech. Imagine trying to articulate the complex sounds of ‘s’, and ‘r’ without any muscle tone… it doesn’t work. Your tongue must be taut and toned, more like a hotdog than a hamburger, and suctioned up onto your palate in speech-ready position to pronounce those sophisticated sounds.
Gunner’s Transformation
We worked together for a year strengthening Gunner’s lips, so he could keep them closed and breathe healthily through his nose. We exercised his tongue, so he could use it to speak clearly and prevent it from damaging his teeth.
Last time I saw Gunner his lips were closed, and his eyes were alert and twinkly. When he smiled at me, he revealed a full set of straight teeth, and he spoke with the precision of a politician.
Even more importantly, Gunner has a better quality of life. He has learned to control his congestion and breathe through his nose; his allergies rarely flare up, and he can usually fight off colds. Imagine how much better he feels, which in turn, will increase his chances for success.
Great Health, Good Looks and Clear Diction Beget Success!
The truth is, Gunner is destined for greatness – he’s an ‘A’ student and a talented athlete! He has the discipline and determination to conquer his hurdles in the face of adversity! He will go far!
But Gunner couldn’t have conquered this hurdle alone. Fortunately, his parents jumped in and got him help before his speech disorder took over his life. And they did their research and found the BEST combination of services for Gunner…they found us to provide his combined speech and tongue thrust therapy…even if they had to do it over Skype. Oh…did I forget to mention that Gunner lives in Wisconsin?
Parents, you must advocate for your kids. You must be the ones to find appropriate professional help and get your children on the path to success. We are here to help your children overcome their hurdles and share their unique gifts with the world. Please call us for more information at 858.509.1131 or contact us via our form.