If your child is struggling with feeding, speech or sleep disturbances and you don’t know where to start, just begin with an initial evaluation!

In this one hour appointment:

1. You will meet with BOTH our expert providers-

Dr. Karrie Lee (Pediatric Dentist) and Meagan Dungan (Speech and Feeding Specialist)

2. We will complete a thourough patient history and review your child’s specific symptoms.

3. Dr. Karrie will perform a clinical oral mech exam inside your child’s mouth to assess any tethered oral tissues.

4. Meagan will perform a functional exam assessing your child’s feeding and speech development.

5. Together our providers will formulate a personalized treatment plan for your child to treat the symptoms and ensure long term success!

Services

Our commitment to comprehensive, continuous care is the reason we achieve the results that we do. We believe that every step matters, and that’s why we focus on ensuring each patient receives the support they need to thrive, before and after any procedure.

Comprehensive support for infants and children, including:

Infant feeding (breast and bottle feeding)

Transition to solids

Picky eaters

Tube weaning

Failure to thrive

Oral-motor development
Specializing in:

Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Articulation therapy

Phonological processes
For children ages 4+ to improve:

Sleep-disordered breathing

Airway function

Feeding challenges

Orofacial muscle coordination
At Elevate, we do things differently. We provide a collaborative evaluation with both an airway-conscious pediatric dentist and a speech and feeding specialist to ensure the proper treatment from start to finish. Pre-release therapy is vital to the success of the procedure, and post-release therapy ensures complete symptom resolution and long-term success.
The type of procedure matters! The CO2 laser is the gold standard of treatment for tongue and lip ties. Its benefits include:
Precision & Minimal Discomfort – Less bleeding, reduced pain, and faster healing
Quick & Efficient – The procedure itself takes only 10-15 minutes for infants
Lower Risk of Reattachment – A clean cut allows for better healing outcomes
Supports Functional Improvement – Immediate benefits for feeding, speech, and airway function

We are deeply passionate about providing excellent care from pre-release therapy all the way through to discharge. What sets Elevate Feeding and Tongue Tie Specialty Center apart is that we don’t simply release and send you on your way—we stay with you throughout the entire journey.

Suck, swallow, breathe coordination
Reflexive sucking
Rooting reflex present
Primarily bottle or breastfed.

Development Milestones

Red Flags

FEEDING

Difficulty with nursing/bottle feeds
Picky eatersFeeding/oral aversions
Difficulty with solid foods
Clicking when feedingGagging, coughing, or choking inadequate weight gain or failure to thrive, colic, gas, or reflux

SPEECH

Articulation Delays

Trouble pronouncing specific sounds beyond the expected age.
Consistent patterns of sound errors (e.g., always dropping final consonants).
Difficulty planning and coordinating speech movements.
Unclear speech beyond age 3-4.
Persistent errors past the typical age.
Avoidance or frustration with speaking.

AIRWAY

Sleep disturbance
Sleeping with mouth open or snoring Bed wetting or night terrors

Our Specialty

THERAPY: Our VitalStim-certified therapist uses specialized techniques to improve swallowing function and strengthen the muscles involved in feeding.

PICKY EATERS: We develop personalized strategies to get to the root cause of your child’s difficulties to expand your child’s food preferences and ensure they receive the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.

TETHERED ORAL ISSUES: Accurate assessment and treatment of tethered oral tissues (such as tongue ties) are crucial. We evaluate both the tissue and its function, providing pre- and post-release therapy all in one convenient location.

BREAST/BOTTLE FEEDING: Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, we offer guidance and support to help you and your baby have a successful feeding experience.

TRANSITION TO SOLIDS: We assist with the often challenging transition from milk to solid foods, ensuring it is a smooth and enjoyable process for both you and your child.