Connecting Minds Holistic Speech Pathology

25/11/2025

💬 New research is changing the way we understand children’s speech sound disorders — and it’s really encouraging for families.

A new study, The Articulatory Basis of Phonological Error Patterns in Childhood Speech Sound Disorders, has found evidence for something speech pathologists trained and experienced in orofacial myology see every day:

👉 Many speech sound errors aren’t just “phonological” or rule-based — they’re linked to real differences in how a child’s jaw, lips, and tongue move.

The study looked at 48 preschool children with moderate–severe speech sound disorders and found:

🔹 Difficulties like cluster reduction, final consonant deletion, stopping, fronting, and gliding were strongly connected to underlying speech motor control challenges.

🔹 These children often had reduced control of the jaw, lips, and tongue — the exact muscles and movements needed to make clear speech.

🔹 Interestingly, gliding (“wabbit” for “rabbit”) was less related to motor difficulty and may be a compensatory stage.

🔹 Speech errors weren’t just “mix-ups” — they often reflected the child’s developing motor system.

✨ Why this matters:
This research supports approaches used by speech pathologists with training in orofacial myology, who blend phonological learning with motor-based strategies to strengthen, coordinate, and refine speech movements.

For parents, this means:

✔ Your child isn’t “lazy” or “not trying.”
✔ Many speech errors reflect real developmental differences.
✔ Motor-informed therapy can target underlying causes, not just symptoms.

If you'd like to chat about what this might mean for your child’s speech development, I’m always happy to help.

Phone me on 0417 853 377 or email me hello@connectingminds.net.au if you feel your child may benefit from this approach.

Speech acquisition involves complex coordination of articulatory structures, primarily the jaw, lips, and tongue. Typically developing children acquire speech sounds in a hierarchical sequence governed by progressive neuromotor maturation. However, ...

18/11/2025

🌟 Now Certified in the Bebe Munchee 🌟
I’m excited to share that I am now a certified Bebe Munchee practitioner, and families can now purchase the medical-grade silicone Bebe Munchee directly through me.
Because it’s a therapeutic oral appliance, it’s only available through certified practitioners.

🍼 How the Bebe Munchee can help (6–18 months):
The Bebe Munchee gently encourages healthy oral development and early chewing skills. With consistent use, it can help support:
• Lips coming together more easily
• The tongue resting up toward the palate
• A smoother, more coordinated swallow
• Gradual comfort exploring new textures and solids
• Nasal breathing becoming more natural
• Strengthening of the muscles needed for chewing

👶 Signs your little one may benefit:
• Frequent dribbling or drooling
• Open-mouth breathing or resting with the mouth open
• Gagging or coughing when trying more textured foods
• Minimal interest in chewing
• Difficulty maintaining a good seal on the bottle or cup
• Waking often overnight
• Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
• Had a tongue-tie release but feeding or solids are still challenging

If you’re wondering whether the Bebe Munchee is right for your child, feel free to reach out for guidance, assessment, or to arrange a purchase.

✨ A very special thank you to Dr Mary Bourke and the MyoMunchee team for the images used in this post.

12/11/2025

🌿 5 Everyday Habits That Can Influence Your Child’s Face, Airway & Speech 🌿

Did you know that the way your child breathes, swallows, and rests their mouth can gently shape how their face and jaw grow — and even how clearly they speak?

These patterns often develop without us realising. Habits like mouth breathing, thumb or finger sucking, or prolonged dummy use are common and often soothing… but when they continue over time, they can subtly influence:
💨 Airway development and nasal breathing
🦷 Jaw and dental growth
🗣️ Clarity and ease of speech

The good news? With gentle awareness and support, these habits can be guided in positive directions. Orofacial myofunctional therapy (and speech therapy) help retrain the muscles of the lips, tongue, and jaw to work together for clear speech, comfortable breathing, and healthy facial growth.

✨ Early awareness makes a lifelong difference — helping little ones breathe, speak, and grow with confidence. ✨

If you’ve noticed any of these habits and are curious about what they mean, a chat with a Speech Pathologist trained in Orofacial Myology can help you understand the next steps.

👩‍⚕️ Michelle at Connecting Minds Holistic Speech Pathology
M: 0417 853 377 E: hello@connectingminds.net.au
Adelaide Speech Pathologist | Orofacial Myologist

01/11/2025

👂💛 This research makes me so excited for the future of paediatric healthcare!

As a speech pathologist and orofacial myologist, I often see how ear health, airway development, and facial growth are connected — yet they’re often treated separately.

Many children, including my own experience glue ear (fluid behind the eardrum) without infection or pain, and while grommets can help, they don’t always address the underlying structural factors that can affect ear drainage and function.

This 2025 study in the European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry explored how rapid maxillary expansion (RME) — orthodontic treatment to widen the upper jaw — may support natural ear drainage in selected children.

It’s such an exciting step toward a more holistic, team-based approach where speech pathologists, ENTs, and orthodontists work together to support breathing, ear health, and overall development.

Thank you to Dr Shereen Lim for the original post that summarises the results of this article which I have shared below.
📖 Read more:
Orthodontics meets otorhinolaryngology: a collaborative approach to otitis media prevention
🔗https://www.ejpd.eu/wp-content/pdf/EJPD_2025_2413.pdf

29/10/2025

✨ It started with nail biting…

Back in 2020, I was just another mum trying to keep my family healthy. When I noticed my daughter biting her nails again, I started searching for answers — and stumbled across Orofacial Myology.

What began as curiosity soon became a passion for understanding how breathing, sleep, and oral habits all connect.

💛 Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that lead to the biggest discoveries.

08/09/2025

🌟 Meet Michelle 🌟
We’re so excited to introduce Michelle — the passionate speech pathologist behind Connecting Minds!

Michelle is an intuitive and proactive clinician with a wealth of experience across government services, NGOs, and private practice since graduating from Flinders University in 2010 🎓

As a mum of three, Michelle brings not only professional knowledge but also a deep personal understanding of the challenges and joys that come with supporting children’s development 🧒🏾👧🏻

Her journey into the fascinating world of orofacial myology has reignited her love for speech pathology. She’s especially passionate about looking at how the mouth, face, and breathing patterns work together — and how this impacts speech, eating, drinking, sleeping, and overall well-being 🍽️🧋😴☀️

Michelle currently has some limited availability for new families and would love to chat with you if you’re curious about how this approach might support your child 👅👄👃🫁

📩 Reach out to book or learn more!

05/04/2025

❤️ At Connecting Minds Holistic Speech Pathology, families are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in the power of listening to parents—their observations, concerns, and perspectives are invaluable to us.
Your insights are essential to how we tailor our support for your child and family, ensuring a personalised and effective approach. Together, we can make a positive impact on your child’s communication journey. 🤝💬

30/12/2020

Ready for some moving and shaking these holidays??

Extra sessions of the Belong Together group have been added for Wednesday the 6th and 13th of January at 9:30-10:30 at the St Agnes Community Building.

Group activities target early communication skills including turn taking, developing a longer attention span and joint attention, alongside the ability to understand and use language.

The use of oral language, key word sign and visual supports are utilised through engaging songs, movement, musical instruments and stories.

The session costs $64.50, for families with NDIS funding this can be used if you are plan or self managed.

For bookings please contact Michelle on 0417 853 377 or michelle@ibelongcommunity.com.au

Other siblings are welcome to attend if unable to find alternative care.

30/12/2020

Have a little mover and shaker in the house? BELONG TOGETHER is the place for you! Bookings now open for term 1 2021 🎉

All the details are provided below.

If you feel this group speaks to your family's needs, I am very much looking forward to hearing from you.
Also feel free to share with family and friends.

We do our best together.

30/12/2020

It is with much excitement that I welcome you to I Belong Community.

My passion and my heart together in one place.

I Belong Community is a speech pathology practice which is committed to providing individualised therapy sessions and specialised group programs to the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide.

Services are tailored for children up to 18 years of age, who require support with their communication, literacy and/or social skills.

Here at I Belong Community, we firmly believe that when a child experiences difficulties in meeting their milestones, it is the responsibility of their community to accept and support the child. This fosters widespread acceptance and acknowledgement of the individual child's needs. Children flourish and so does their community.

'Diversity is having a seat at the table,
Inclusion is having a voice,
And belonging is having that voice heard.'
~ Liz Fosslien & Mollie West Duffy

I look forward to meeting you.