FOCUS

10/05/2026

Is it time to say goodbye to the pacifier? 🍼

Pacifiers help in early infancy. They lower the risk of SIDS and soothe babies during shots. But the AAP recommends weaning during the second six months of life, and research gives parents good reasons not to wait much longer.

Heavy pacifier use has been linked to smaller vocabularies at ages 1 and 2, more ear infections, and dental changes that can make some speech sounds harder. Sippy cups were designed as a short stop on the way to an open cup, not a permanent fixture.

Our latest blog breaks down what the research shows, what it doesn't, and how to phase out both. Read it here:

Most Fort Myers speech therapists are of the mind that once a child starts to talk, the pacifier and the sippy cup should be on their way out. A toddler needs a free mouth to babble, experiment with sounds, and…

10/01/2026

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. 💙💛

Many children with Down syndrome understand far more than they can say. The research shows the gap can narrow when families start early: hearing checks every six months in the early years, feeding and oral-motor support in infancy, and signs and communication devices from the start.

Our latest blog explains what Fort Myers families should know about Down syndrome and speech, from the first months and beyond. Read it here:

A Fort Myers speech therapist for Down syndrome explains oral-motor differences, hearing checks, and how signs and AAC build communication from infancy.

09/18/2026

When an insurance plan cuts your child's authorized therapy hours, the language can be dense and confusing - and the deadlines to act are short.

New on our blog: learn more about what these notices mean, how to advocate for your child and appeal those decisions, and a reminder to request ongoing services while your appeal is pending.

When insurance cuts authorized therapy hours, FOCUS Therapy explains your appeal rights and deadlines that matter.

09/15/2026

Families:
Our clinic is not affiliated with any university but the questions in this survey could impact the access to good healthcare in our county. Please take a moment to fill out this survey…BONUS you get a $15 gift card for participating and it only takes a few minutes.

This is an example page. It’s different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I’m a bike messe...

09/12/2026

In Toy Story 5, Bonnie's parents buy her a tablet to help her make friends. The movie is generous about that decision, but increasingly, our pediatric therapists are seeing that screentime is actually a hinderance to children's social-emotional development. New on our blog, check out what the research says, plus five things families can change this week:

Pixar spent four films asking what happens to a toy when a child outgrows it. Toy Story 5 asks a harder question: What happens to a child when nothing gets outgrown, because nothing gets played with? Bonnie is 8 now.…

09/09/2026

The sweetest email from a wonderful parent who moved out of the area recently 💚

09/04/2026

If bedtime is the hardest hour of your day, the problem may not be the routine. Here is how to tell a sensory sleep problem from a behavioral one, what the research really says about weighted blankets, and the safety rules that matter most.

A Fort Myers occupational therapist explains when bedtime resistance is a sensory sleep issue - and what approaches may work.

08/29/2026

Most kids with speech errors ultimately learn to read just fine. But research has gotten specific about which children are at real risk, and it comes down to the type of error. If your kindergartner has speech concerns heading into the school year, our Fort Myers speech therapists can offer some insight on your next steps:
https://focusflorida.com/articles/speech-sound-errors-and-reading-why-a-kindergarten-concern-can-become-a-first-grade-one/

08/12/2026

Fluid behind the eardrum does not make speech inaudible. It erases the quietest parts, and the quietest parts are word endings.
Five out of six kids have an ear infection by age three. Most are fine. Here is how to tell which situations need a closer look, and why clearing the ears does not automatically fix the speech.
https://focusflorida.com/speech-therapy/hearing-loss-chronic-ear-infections-and-delayed-speech/

A Fort Myers speech therapist explains how fluctuating hearing loss from chronic ear infections shapes speech development and what actually helps.