H. is a 10-year-old girl who moves mostly in extension patterns and is completely dependent for all care due to a severely disabling genetic disorder which typically results in an inability to eat orally.

Through intra-oral stimulation, positioning and extensive care giver training she is able to take all her food and medicine in a mashed form from a spoon and drinks water from an adapted bottle. She has learned to chew pizza (her second favorite, after tamales) and can now eat in busy environments without choking.

Her mother wrote this:

"As a registered dietitian, it has always been a top priority that Hannah be well-nourished. It is under expert guidance of specialized feeding therapists that Hannah has been able to avoid the necessity of tube-feeding.

Silke has advanced knowledge and skills in all aspects of feeding disorders and is one of the very rare feeding specialists who puts all that learned theory into practice. Silke's therapy has been goal oriented and successful.

SHE [Silke] UNDERSTANDS THAT EATING IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST NUTRITION - IT DIRECTLY RELATES TO OVERALL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

Our family has completely confidence that Silke will help our daughter continue to eat safely and enjoy the pleasures of food."