SUCKING: Foundation for Long Term Feeding, Speech, and Airway Health

Kristin Horwath, PT, DPT, CNT, NTMTC, is a pediatric physical therapist, certified neonatal therapist, and Neonatal Touch and Massage certified. Kristin has worked in a variety of settings including acute care, outpatient pediatric rehabilitation, and NICU. Kristin’s work in the NICU centered around leading program development on cranial molding, advocating and educating staff on the role of rehab in the NICU from admission to discharge, and collaborating on the development of the chronic BPD unit within the NICU, advocating for the tiniest patients that lived in the NICU for weeks to months. She presented and advocated for developmentally appropriate care in the NICU, involving a multidisciplinary approach and team effort promoting more optimal developmental outcomes. Kristin specializes in treating infants and has a passion for treating babies with a proactive approach, promoting optimal gross motor skills through intentional positioning and handling and prevention and treatment of torticollis, plagiocephaly, and body compensations associated with feeding difficulties.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kristin Horwath is the co-founder of Balanced Baby. She has intellectual property rights with Honeywell. Kristin Horwath receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Kristin Horwath is a member of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists.

Jennifer Ainsworth, OTR/L, NTMTC, is a pediatric occupational therapist and Neonatal Touch and Massage certified. Jenn has cared for patients in a variety of settings throughout her career, including outpatient pediatric rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation and the NICU. Jenn specializes in pre-feeding, initiating po feeds and progressing through the stages of feeding with emphasis on providing education on feeding and development to moms. She has extensive training and experience in feeding difficulties from neonates through childhood. Jenn has attended neurodevelopmental treatment courses for handling and facilitation of typical motor patterns and makes the connection as to how motor patterns relate to successful feeding experience for both mom and infants. She strongly believes in the power of intentional touch and believes that feeding is best when worked on from the foundation of movement patterns and the innate developmental sucking pattern as it relates to feeding. She is passionate about empowering and educating moms so they can enjoy each stage of motherhood!

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jennifer Ainsworth is the co-founder and lead occupational therapist of Balanced Baby. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jennifer Ainsworth has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Holly Gombs, SLP-CCC, is a speech therapist with Balanced Baby. Holly is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with 14 years of experience, specializing in oral motor therapy and pediatric feeding therapy. Her expertise spans from pre-feeding in infants to working with adolescents, with a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the body and mouth. Holly is dedicated to improving overall airway health, oral motor strength, and ensuring long-term success in feeding and speech. She is passionate about addressing the foundational aspects of oral development to create positive outcomes for her clients in both speech and feeding. Holly is Talk Tools, Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty, oral myofunctional trained.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Holly Gombs has an employment relationship with Balanced Baby. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Holly Gombs has no relevant non-financial relationships.