Fredericksburg Parent

24 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • March 2022 One in 44 children in the U.S. has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, 1 in 6 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with some type of developmental dis- ability, according to the CDC. When parents notice that their children aren't meeting typical mile- stones, or exhibiting the same language or social behaviors as their peers, evaluation and interven- tion by clinicians trained in speech, occupational, feeding and other related therapies can make a world of difference. Stacie Fox, SLPD, CCC-SLP, leads a team that has been providing these services to area families since 2010. Her practice is now part of the Mary Washington Healthcare family of providers serving families and children in the Fredericksburg region. "Our team is so excited and grateful for the oppor- tunity to be joining the Mary Washington team so that we can continue serving our community and growing to meet future needs," Dr. Fox says. Dr. Fox built the practice to be responsive to the specific needs of families with children who have an Autism diagnosis, who struggle with speech development, functional communication, sensory, and social skill needs. As our March Expert, Dr. Fox talks about speech therapy, occupational therapy, and how her team makes these experiences fun and convenient for children and families. Q: What kinds of services are available at Mary Washington Pediatric Therapy? DR. FOX: We started out providing speech therapy services, and over the years we have added other specialties to meet the need that exists in our community. Today, we offer speech therapy, occupational therapy and feeding therapy. We offer cotreatments with combined disciplines work- ing together to help a child meet their milestones. We also offer augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) options, which includes all types of non-verbal communication, from signing to tech-assisted communication, to help children express their wants and needs and interact socially. Feeding therapy services are also offered to help children be able to increase their acceptance of food. Our skilled therapists work together to help children improve their oral motor skills needed for eating and drinking, improve tolerance and acceptance for differing food types and textures, in order to help them eat more food choices. This is done is a fun and engaging environment with parent support and education for the most success. Orofacial myology is another specialty we offer. This practice uses special- ized knowledge of the muscles of the mouth and face to pinpoint habits or conditions that are interfering with speech, feeding and normal dental development. It's common for families—especially families who have children with an autism diagnosis—to need several of these therapies at the same time. This can put a lot of stress on a family if services require travel to differ- ent clinicians that may not all be located in Fredericksburg. Having all of these services under one roof right here in the Fredericksburg community cuts down on that travel time, creating less stress and letting these fami- lies focus on their child's progress. WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING

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