May was designated Better Hearing and Speech Month nearly a century ago, in 1927. However, the observation was renamed National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in 2024. Regardless of the name of the recognition or the month, RiverView Health’s Speech-Language Pathology Team of Marissa Eback, MS, CCC-SLP, and Mikala Johnson, MS, CF-SLP, is committed to providing exceptional services to patients of all ages who are dealing with communication delays and disorders.
Eback and Johnson are ready for a busy summer. Not only are they prepared to keep pediatric patients from the summer slide — when learning is lost over summer break — but they are also determined to help kids catch up over the summer with a variety of services, including a new program to screen and help those with dyslexia. “We are grateful that a RiverView Foundation donor allowed us to pursue the appropriate training and equipment to develop comprehensive dyslexia programming,” shared Eback. “Through pediatric patient assessments and interviews with community members, we are aware that there is a need for this service.”
Dyslexia is a learning disorder related to language skills. Areas most often impacted include reading, spelling, linguistic processing, vocabulary, and reasoning. “Dyslexia is difficult to identify and diagnose, and is frequently missed or left unaddressed until a child’s skill level is behind peers of the same age.” Eback reported. RiverView’s new program offers free dyslexia screenings to identify individuals who may need further assessments or who may benefit from services to address skills often impacted by dyslexia.
If intervention is appropriate, the team will work with and support others involved – teachers, parents, and other specialists – to develop a plan specific to the child’s needs. “With summer approaching, we are hopeful that these services will assist children with challenges in these areas to catch up over the summer months versus falling further behind while out of school,” Eback concluded. While it’s beneficial for an individual to be screened for dyslexia as early as possible, RiverView offers free screening for anyone between the ages of 5 and 90. Call RiverView’s Rehab Services Department at 218.281.9463 to schedule a free screening or for more information.
Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Studies
To better serve the needs of adult and pediatric patients with dysphagia — difficulty swallowing foods or liquids — Johnson recently earned her certification as a registered modified barium swallow impairment profile clinician, which allows her to conduct video fluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS). Through a VFSS, Johnson can see what happens in a patient’s mouth and throat when they swallow, including:
If food goes into the airway instead of the stomach, also known as aspiration
Which parts of the mouth and throat may not work well
What kinds of food are safest for the patient to swallow
If certain positions or strategies help them swallow better
Feeding Therapy
Johnson also completed Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding training along with RiverView occupational therapist Julia Warmack, OTD, to expand their skill set and knowledge in feeding and swallowing interventions for children with oral motor challenges, food sensitivities, and poor nutrition. Feeding therapy is an approach that helps to identify challenging patterns or underlying sensory processing difficulties and helps to remediate them, making eating a positive and enjoyable experience. Appropriate management of eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties is important for maintaining respiratory health, optimizing nutritional status, maximizing independence, and supporting social participation.
Free Developmental Screenings
Eback and Johnson are also part of the team that leads free developmental screenings through the Rehab Services Department for children from birth to age five. Developmental screenings are simple checkups to ensure your child is developing as expected. Physical, occupational, and speech therapists screen all areas of development, including:
Gross Motor Skills
Speech/Language
Reading and Writing
Self Help Skills
Fine Motor Skills
Social Skills
Screenings are offered at RiverView’s Crookston, East Grand Forks, and Red Lake Falls Rehab Services locations.
For information on any of these services, call Rehab Services at 218.281.9463.
