The Side Biter Story
What therapists are saying...
"I work as a speech-language pathologist in pediatric outpatient and my patients have LOVED using the Side Biter. My patients love loading the Side Biter, giving them a chance to explore the foods we are presenting during the session. I have been able to address tongue lateralization, mastication and oral stimulation with my 18 month old to my adolescence. Thank you Gnosh! "
-Rachael M., SLP
Cheryl Pelletier, MS,CCC-SLP, Gnosh, Inc
"While working for over 30 years with children and adults who do not safely accept, chew and swallow food for adequate nutrition and health, I found a need for this 3-part system. I work with the kit and individual biter tips as well with great success. My goal is to share this device with my colleagues so they can help patients with chewing and swallowing problems. The Side Biter has a place in the dysphagia "TOOLBOX" along with your expert clinical judgement and skilled techniques to help many complex patients across the lifespan."
We see patients with feeding-swallowing dysfunction have specific sensory, motor, oral dysfunction, poor food acceptance, and/or medical problems. They endure aspiration, choking, gagging, vomiting, starvation and are often fed by tubes in their stomachs (gastronomy tube) or have never had solid food inside their mouths. Learning to chew and swallow is dangerous and anxiety provoking for patients and their families. Feeding and swallowing therapy takes months and even years to complete. The costs to families and insurance companies is enormous. However, eating is an essential, pleasurable aspect of being human.
The Side Biter was designed as a specialized, innovative chewing and swallowing tool that provides a 3-level systematic approach that gradually allows therapeutic amounts of food to enter the mouth which stimulates and exercises a patient’s oral cavity (lips, tongue, jaw). The Side Biter gradually and safely aids in the development of food acceptance for effective chewing and side biting skills, lateral and rotary tongue motion in the oral phase of eating and swallowing for ages 2 to 102 years of age. A complete dysphagia evaluation is required prior to medical use.
