Took Lillian for her 3rd dentist appt this morning for the opterator device (to try & help w/ speech). This was just to get the retainer. (An opterator is a retainer with pieces added onto the back to prevent airflow through the nose).

I let her take it out for a little while after school (she would NOT close her mouth, will not swallow, would not talk, read or do anything with it in). After a few minutes she typed into her Dynavox, “I am not alive”. We are struggling with this one! She asked me to tell her the “rules” for how to swallow & close her mouth with the retainer piece in her mouth.

Oh my! I’m in for an interesting ride on this one!

June 2025 Update: We did not make it past this. Lillian did not tolerate the device. She would not let me put it back into her mouth!