http://www.makingconnectionsjcmo.com/

Making Connections LLC, 525 East McCarty Street, Suite 5, Jefferson City, MO (2026)

07/27/2026

Today we want to share some bittersweet news with our Making Connections family.

Our wonderful speech-language pathologist, Lauren, has accepted a new position and her last day with Making Connections will be August 3rd.

While we are certainly sad to see her go, we are incredibly grateful for the compassion, dedication, and expertise she has shared with the children and families we serve. Over the past year, Lauren has made a meaningful impact on so many lives, and we couldn't be more thankful for the care she has provided.

We are excited for her as she begins this next chapter and has the opportunity to continue growing in her career while prioritizing time with her family. We know she will be a blessing to the families she serves in her new role.

Please join us in thanking Lauren for all she has done and wishing her the very best in this exciting new adventure. We are cheering you on and hope our paths cross again in the future! 💙

Thank you, Lauren—you will always be part of the Making Connections family.

07/14/2026

😟 5 Signs Your Child's Anxiety Could Have an Airway Component

When we think about anxiety in children, we often focus on emotions or behavior. But sometimes, the nervous system is responding to something much deeper...

The ability to breathe and sleep well.

If your child has anxiety along with any of these signs, it may be worth taking a closer look at their airway and breathing.

✅ 1. They breathe through their mouth.
Mouth breathing can become a chronic habit that affects oxygen delivery, sleep quality, facial growth, and nervous system regulation.

✅ 2. They snore or sleep restlessly.
Snoring isn't normal in children. Frequent movement, unusual sleep positions, teeth grinding, or waking often can all be signs that breathing is disrupted during sleep.

✅ 3. They're always "on the go."
Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty focusing can actually be signs of a child who isn't getting restorative sleep—not just excess energy.

✅ 4. They wake up tired, even after a full night's sleep.
A child may spend 10–12 hours in bed but still wake exhausted if their sleep is repeatedly interrupted by breathing difficulties.

✅ 5. They seem anxious, emotionally reactive, or easily overwhelmed.
Poor sleep keeps the brain and body in a constant state of "fight or flight," making it harder for children to regulate emotions and cope with everyday stress.

💙 The good news?
When underlying airway and breathing issues are identified and treated, many children experience improvements not only in sleep, but also in emotional regulation, attention, behavior, and overall quality of life.

Anxiety is complex, and airway issues aren't the cause of every child's symptoms. But they are an important piece of the puzzle that is often overlooked.

✨ Healthy breathing supports healthy sleep. Healthy sleep supports a calmer, more regulated brain.

07/09/2026

"My child had their tonsils and adenoids removed...so why are they still mouth breathing?" 🤔

This is one of the most common questions I hear from parents.

Removing enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids can create more space for breathing—but it doesn't automatically change the breathing habits your child has developed over months or even years.

🚲 Think about learning to ride a bike.

Once you learn how to ride, you don't have to think about every movement. Your brain and body remember the pattern, and it becomes automatic.

Breathing works much the same way.

If a child has relied on mouth breathing for months or years because their airway was blocked, that pattern becomes automatic. Even after surgery opens the airway, the brain and muscles may continue using the same mouth breathing pattern simply because that's what they've learned.

This is where Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) comes in.

OMT helps children retrain those automatic patterns by teaching them how to:
👃 Breathe through their nose (when the airway is open)
👄 Maintain a comfortable lips-together resting posture
👅 Rest the tongue against the roof of the mouth
💧 Develop a mature swallowing pattern
💪 Improve the coordination and strength of the muscles of the face, lips, tongue, and jaw

Tonsil and adenoid surgery and OMT aren't competing treatments—they work together.

✨ Surgery addresses the structure.
✨ OMT retrains the function.

The goal isn't just to create a bigger airway—it's to help your child learn how to use it efficiently.

If your child still sleeps with their mouth open, breathes through their mouth during the day, or has a tongue thrust after tonsil and/or adenoid removal, they may benefit from an orofacial myofunctional evaluation.

💙 An open airway is the first step. Learning to use it well is the next.

07/03/2026

Proud to celebrate the freedom to grow, learn, and connect. ❤️🤍💙

This Fourth of July, we're celebrating more than fireworks and cookouts—we're celebrating the little victories that make every day meaningful.

✨ A baby's first successful latch.
✨ A child saying a new sound with confidence.
✨ A picky eater trying a new food.
✨ A reader sounding out a new word.
✨ A family finding hope after months of challenges.

At Making Connections, we are honored to be part of these moments every day.

As you gather with family and friends, we hope your holiday is filled with laughter, memories, and time spent with the people who matter most.

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Making Connections! 🇺🇸

Stay safe, enjoy the fireworks, and have a wonderful Fourth of July!

06/25/2026

📚✨ Two Summer Literacy Opportunities Are Here! ✨📚
Is your child ready to strengthen the skills that support reading success? This July, we're offering TWO literacy-focused boot camps designed to meet children where they are on their literacy journey!

🌟 Pre-Literacy Boot Camp
Perfect for preschoolers and emerging learners who are building the foundational skills needed for reading success.
Skills targeted:
✔ Listening and language development
✔ Rhyming and syllable awareness
✔ Letter recognition
✔ Beginning sound awareness
✔ Print concepts
✔ Early literacy readiness skills

📖 NEW! Literacy Boot Camp
The next step for children who have mastered foundational pre-literacy skills and are ready to become stronger readers.
Skills targeted:
✔ Phonological and phonemic awareness
✔ Letter-sound correspondence (phonics)
✔ Decoding and word reading
✔ Spelling and encoding
✔ Reading accuracy and fluency
✔ Vocabulary and reading comprehension
💡 Strong readers are built one skill at a time. Whether your child is just beginning their literacy journey or ready to take the next step, we have a program designed to help them grow with confidence.
📅 July Sessions Available
⏰ 30-minute sessions
👩‍⚕️ Literacy Boot Camp led by Lauren, SLP
📍 Limited spots available
📩 Contact us today to learn which boot camp is the best fit for your child!

06/11/2026

📚✨ Two Summer Literacy Opportunities Are Here! ✨📚

Is your child ready to strengthen the skills that support reading success? This July, we're offering TWO literacy-focused boot camps designed to meet children where they are on their literacy journey!

🌟 Pre-Literacy Boot Camp
Perfect for preschoolers and emerging learners who are building the foundational skills needed for reading success.

Skills targeted:
✔ Listening and language development
✔ Rhyming and syllable awareness
✔ Letter recognition
✔ Beginning sound awareness
✔ Print concepts
✔ Early literacy readiness skills

📖 NEW! Literacy Boot Camp
The next step for children who have mastered foundational pre-literacy skills and are ready to become stronger readers.

Skills targeted:
✔ Phonological and phonemic awareness
✔ Letter-sound correspondence (phonics)
✔ Decoding and word reading
✔ Spelling and encoding
✔ Reading accuracy and fluency
✔ Vocabulary and reading comprehension

💡 Strong readers are built one skill at a time. Whether your child is just beginning their literacy journey or ready to take the next step, we have a program designed to help them grow with confidence.

📅 July Sessions Available
⏰ 30-minute sessions
👩‍⚕️ Literacy Boot Camp led by Lauren, SLP
📍 Limited spots available

📩 Contact us today to learn which boot camp is the best fit for your child!

06/08/2026

🚨 Not Every Tongue Tie Needs to Be Released Immediately 🚨

One of the biggest misconceptions about tethered oral tissues (tongue ties, lip ties, and buccal ties) is that a release is always the first step—or that a release will magically solve every problem.

The truth? Function matters more than structure.

A child can have a visible tie and function beautifully. On the other hand, a child may struggle with feeding, speech, sleep, airway development, or oral function even when the tie appears mild.

Before considering a release, it's important to look at the whole child:
✨ How is their body moving?
✨ Are there areas of tension or compensation?
✨ How are feeding skills developing?
✨ What does oral function look like?

Many children benefit from a team approach that may include:
✔️ Feeding Therapy
✔️ Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
✔️ Chiropractic Care
✔️ Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
✔️ Physical or Occupational Therapy
✔️ Lactation Support (for infants)

Bodywork before and after a release can help improve mobility, reduce compensations, and support better outcomes. In some cases, therapy and bodywork alone may significantly improve function without the need for an immediate procedure.

A release is a tool—not a cure.

The goal isn't simply to release tissue. The goal is to improve function, comfort, and quality of life through thoughtful assessment and individualized care.

06/05/2026

🍼 Is Your Baby Struggling with Feeding? Oral Function Matters. 👶

Feeding should be comfortable for both baby and parent, but sometimes challenges such as:

▪️ Difficulty latching
▪️ Clicking while nursing or bottle feeding
▪️ Milk leaking from the mouth
▪️ Frequent gas or reflux symptoms
▪️ Poor weight gain
▪️ Long or exhausting feeding sessions
▪️ Preference for turning the head one direction

may be signs that your baby's oral function needs a closer look.

As pediatric feeding specialists, we assess how the tongue, lips, jaw, palate, and body work together during feeding. Sometimes tension in the body can impact a baby's ability to latch, suck, swallow, and breathe efficiently.

✨ Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that may help release tension and improve comfort and mobility throughout the body. When used as part of a collaborative care team, CST can support feeding outcomes by helping babies move and function more efficiently.

Every baby is unique, and feeding challenges are rarely caused by just one factor. A comprehensive evaluation can help identify the underlying pieces of the puzzle and create a plan that supports successful feeding.

💙 Early support can make a big difference for both babies and families.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Their courage will never be forgotten. ❤️🤍💙

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful holiday as we honor those who served and sacrificed.

05/18/2026

Happy National Speech-Language Pathologist Day to the professionals who help others find their voice, build confidence, and connect with the world around them. 💙

SLPs support communication, feeding, swallowing, literacy, social connection, and so much more — from first words to lifelong advocacy. Every sound shaped, every safe swallow, every communication breakthrough matters.

Today we celebrate the patience, creativity, knowledge, and heart that speech-language pathologists bring to the families and individuals they serve every single day. 🗣️✨

Making Connections LLC

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