MY STORY

Hi, I’m Aixa, a speech-language pathologist and a mom of three little humans, two on earth-side and one in heaven, and a wiggly fur baby. I began my career working with children with autism, sensory processing disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and other speech-language disorders and delays. After a few years, I transitioned to working with adults at a local hospital and continue working there today. I am so grateful I am able to work with both pediatric and adult patients. Both of these populations have a special place in my heart. 

In 2020, I received the biggest blessing, I entered the world of motherhood as my first child was born in October. I quickly learned how beautiful but also difficult motherhood can be. So many things to learn and manage all while trying to heal from postpartum on very (very) little sleep. It’s true what they say, motherhood teaches you strengths you didn’t know you had.

While I breastfed my son as a newborn, I noticed atypical feeding and swallowing behaviors (e.g., tongue thrust, choking, loud gulping). He was checked by a few medical providers for tethered oral tissues (TOTs), unfortunately I did not meet with right providers. They indicated everything was normal and any issues were likely from my fast letdown. I felt completely disregarded. As recommended, I allowed some time to pass to see if it improved on it's own, but unfortunately some things didn't. Given my background as a speech-language pathologist, I was familiar with what typical oral motor developmental and feeding should look like. I continued to feel that something was atypical in my son's oral and feeding development. I just did not believe in the "he'll grow out of it" phrase. So I trusted my own intuition (as a mama + SLP), I did more research, I enrolled in classes, and met with professionals who specialized in this area. They listened and supported me like no other. All my concerns were validated and addressed. 

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When my second baby was born, I fortunately had the experience, knowledge, and education to address the oral motor and breastfeeding difficulties we were having yet again. I knew how to treat the deficits early on in a collaborative and holistic approach.