Episode 32: The Feeding-Speech Connection Nobody Talks About

You took your child to speech therapy for the talking. You were told to just keep offering food for the eating. Two separate waitlists, two separate specialists, zero conversation about how they might actually be the same problem.In this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, explains the connection between feeding and speech that most families never hear about — and why, if your child is a late talker and a picky eater, that combination is not a coincidence.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the mouth is one shared system — and how the same muscles your child uses to chew and swallow are the exact muscles they need to make speech sounds. The five signs that your child's feeding challenges and speech delays are connected. Why your child's SLP should be asking about feeding at every appointment — and what to say if they never have. Simple oral motor activities you can start this week that support both eating and talking at the same time. When one specialist isn't enough — and how to build the right team for a child who needs support in both areas.Whether your child gags on textures, drools past the age where most kids stop, is hard to understand even by people who know them well, or you've just felt like you're only getting half the picture from your current team — this episode gives you the full picture.Resources Mentioned:Courses: thelittleeaters.com/CoursesFree Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloadsBook an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.comFollow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkersIf this episode gave you that "aha" moment — share it with a parent who's been chasing two separate answers for what might be one shared problem.