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Expert Therapy

who we are

At Brandhorst Specialized Therapy, we recognize that bodies are complex, integrated systems. When a presenting problem does not respond to traditional therapy, we dig deeper! The vision held by a single therapist working out of her car has expanded to include like-minded clinicians with diverse speech and pediatric physical therapy specializations.

We diagnose and treat movement, motor, speech, and feeding disorders in people of all ages. These disorders may be related to premature birth, picky eating, Autism Spectrum Disorder, tethered oral tissue, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, degenerative disease, CVA, TBI, apraxia of speech, and more. We work with other medical professionals to uncover the airway, musculoskeletal, and neurological factors that contribute to the observable concern. Then we develop individualized, family-centered treatment strategies, drawing from both traditional therapy practices and innovative techniques.

We offer therapy in our office, your home, your child’s daycare, or virtually. Our approach enables patients to find the answers and support needed to stabilize, grow, and thrive.

Our Services

Expressive/ Receptive/ Social Language

Language enables us to comprehend the world around us, communicate with others, and navigate social interactions. We help patients of all ages who face language challenges.

Indicators someone is struggling in this area include:
  • Delayed speech development
  • Inability to initiate or maintain conversation
  • Leaving words out of sentences or repeating phrases or words
  • Cannot identify and understand the main point of what they hear, read, or watch
  • Unable to process information in “busy” environments
  • Trouble reading and responding to social cues

Oral Motor Dysfunction

Weakened or uncoordinated movements of the lips, tongue, and jaw impede feeding, breathing, speaking, and more. We help patients recognize structural anomalies and strengthen muscles to gain optimal function. We partner with other healthcare providers when structural changes are recommended.

Signs of oral motor dysfunction include:
  • Problematic or ineffective nursing
  • Excessive drooling
  • Swallowing difficulties
  • Problems drinking from a bottle, cup, or straw
  • Picky eating or unwillingness to try new foods
  • Problems chewing or keeping food/drink in mouth
  • Stuttering
  • Cluttering
  • Lisping
  • Snoring or noisy breathing

Voice Disorders

Reduced vocal quality can indicate a problem with the vocal cords. Often this is the result of a neurological condition or brain injury. We help patients learn to strengthen, care for, and improve their voice.

Characteristics of voice disorder include:
  • Scratchy, hoarse, breathy, or weak voice
  • Discomfort with speaking
  • Chronic sore throat or cough
  • Sensation of something in the throat
  • Voice fatigues easily
  • Loss of singing range/quality
  • Shortness of breath during speech, singing, or exercise

Executive Functioning

There are many cognitive skills needed to perform daily activities: attention, planning, memory, and problem-solving. We can help patients improve these skills and learn strategies to compensate for them.

Signals that executive functioning support is needed include:
  • Failureto keep personal space and belongings organized
  • Inability to retrieve, hold, and review information to complete a cognitive task
  • Trouble initiating an activity or generating ideas, responses, or problem-solving strategies
  • Cannot recognize and follow behavioral expectations and unwritten social rules
  • Lack of inhibition
  • Difficulty processing own emotions or responding to others’ emotions
  • Rigid response to new or unexpected situations

Movement/ Strength/ Balance

Many infants and children have difficulty moving their bodies the way they want to in everyday activities. This can be caused by delayed development, prematurity, injury, genetic disorder, a nerve/muscle condition, or simply a lack of coordination. Physical and occupational therapy helps infants and children improve strength, flexibility, posture, balance and coordination so play and movement activities (gross motor skills) become easier. Physical and occupational therapy also helps make adaptations for those who need extra help to be as independent as possible.

Your baby or child could benefit from physical or occupational therapy if they:
  • Tilt or only turn head to one side
  • Have a flattened area on their head
  • Cannot tolerate tummy time
  • Fail to reach milestones for rolling, sitting, crawling, bearing weight or walking
  • Frequently walk on tip toes or have an unusual walking pattern
  • Frequently trip or fall while walking or running/clumsy
  • Cannot jump, skip, ride a bike, play sports, or catch or throw a ball
  • Have poor posture or difficulty maintaining posture
  • Have pain
  • Have low or high muscle tone
  • Lack strength, have low endurance and/or fatigue quickly

Growth and Play

While play and exploration are central to a child’s growth and development, it is a struggle for some children. Issues with fine or gross motor skills, sensory processing, and visual-perceptual skills can hold them back. Occupational therapy can help children develop the physical, emotional, and social skills needed to balance connection and independence in their daily tasks.

We can help children who:
  • Missed or delayed developmental milestones
  • Struggle with using scissors, drawing, stringing beads, using utensils, and other fine motor skills
  • Overreacts to touch, taste, sounds, movement, or smells
  • Underreacts to certain sensations (high pain tolerance, doesn’t notice cuts or bruises)
  • Constantly moving, jumping, touching, or running into things
  • Cannot learn, play, or socialize at an age-appropriate level
  • Lacks independence in daily activities

Expressive/ Receptive/ Social Language

Expressive/ Receptive/ Social Language

Language enables us to comprehend the world around us, communicate with others, and navigate social interactions. We help patients of all ages who face language challenges.

Indicators someone is struggling in this area include:
  • Delayed speech development
  • Inability to initiate or maintain conversation
  • Leaving words out of sentences or repeating phrases or words
  • Cannot identify and understand the main point of what they hear, read, or watch
  • Unable to process information in “busy” environments
  • Trouble reading and responding to social cues

Oral Motor Dysfunction

Voice Disorders

Executive Functioning

Movement/ Strength/ Balance

Growth and Play

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Meet our team

Lindsey Brandhorst | MA, CCC-SLP

Lindsey is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and founder of Brandhorst Specialized Therapy. She takes a non-traditional approach to helping people of all ages recognize and overcome feeding and

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Bri Nickell | MA, CCC-SLP

Bri is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who wants every child to be understood and to understand and communicate their own thoughts, ideas, wants, and needs. She likes to

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Kelly Martin | MA, CCC-SLP, LOUD Certified

Kelly is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with nearly a decade of experience treating adults for a variety of voice, communication, swallowing, and cognitive concerns. She has been an

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Rosemary Santoiemma-Klopping | PT, MPT

Rosemary has invested 24 years as a Physical Therapist focusing her career on pediatrics in an outpatient setting and in the home. She helps make everyday play and movement activities

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Tracie Barlow | OTR/L, C/NDT

Tracie is a pediatric NDT-certified (Neuro-Developmental Treatment Approach) Occupational Therapist who treats infants and children with a variety of developmental delays related to motor, sensory, and feeding issues. She has

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Shari Damaso | Office Manager

Shari works outside the therapy room to ensure you have a great experience at Brandhorst Specialized Therapy. Shari graduated from the University of Iowa twice (B.S. in Psychology, M.A. in

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Angie Jones | OTR/L

Angie Jones (OTR/L) holds a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and is trained in SOS for feeding, Wilbarger Therapressure Protocol, and Therapeutic Listening. She has 20 years of experience as a

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FAQs

  • General Questions
  • Speech & Feeding Therapy
  • Physical & Occupational Therapy
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Do I need a physician referral to see you?

We do not require a referral for our services. However, some insurance companies do. We are happy to research your policy’s requirements and, if needed, guide you through the referral process.

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How expensive is therapy?

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What is the parent’s role in their child’s therapy?

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How does therapy help after stroke (CVA) or head injury (TBI)?

General Questions Down Arrow

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Do I need a physician referral to see you?

We do not require a referral for our services. However, some insurance companies do. We are happy to research your policy’s requirements and, if needed, guide you through the referral process.

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How expensive is therapy?

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What is the parent’s role in their child’s therapy?

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How does therapy help after stroke (CVA) or head injury (TBI)?

Speech & Feeding Therapy Down Arrow

Physical & Occupational Therapy Down Arrow

testimonials

Nicole Borja Nicole Borja

Nicole Borja

We first came to Brandhorst Therapy for an evaluation for my daughter, Mia. She had been suffering from what I thought could be a tongue tie. Lindsey checked her and helped expedite the process of getting the ties removed. Two weeks later, Mia had both her lip and tongue evaluated at Tongue Tie Center of Iowa and had a laser tongue tie revision procedure, which was surprisingly painless and lasted only a few minutes. When we came back in to have Mia's lip and tongue checked again by Lindsey, I let her know my concerns about my daughter not sitting up correctly and not crawling on her own yet. Amazingly enough, there was a new PT starting in the office. We started to see Rosie (Physical Therapist), a couple of months ago and now Mia, who is now 9 months, sees her on a weekly basis. I actually enjoy going to these appointments, which is a first for me. You can tell Rosie is very experienced in her profession. The atmosphere and staff at Brandhorst treat everyone with genuine respect and concern, which isn't the case at most clinics. We love it there! My daughter now can fully move her lip and tongue and can finally get adequate rest. On top of that, Mia has started to crawl after working with Rosie. I could literally burst into tears! Our family is so very thankful for Brandhorst and their early intervention with Mia.

Jordan Jordan

Jordan

Lindsey exhibited good patience and love for her job. I was so comfortable having her work with my son when I noticed his speech was falling behind. My son has made excellent progress in speech all thanks to Lindsey!

Mollie Mollie

Mollie

I came to Lindsey because a friend recommended her... and I'm so glad I did! Lindsey got us in quickly and treated me with respect and care. I suspected my 2 week old daughter had oral ties and she confirmed that for me with a quick evaluation. It was easy to get in and she referred me to a great dental office that took care of my baby. I am very happy with the end result.

Paige Eastburn Paige Eastburn

Paige Eastburn

I reached out to Lindsey seeking help with my child who has extensive feeding difficulties plus a severe oral aversion. I appreciated her willingness to first listen to my concerns, second get to know my son and his likes and dislikes, and third thinking out of the box before jumping into working on his challenges. She developed a weekly plan and gave us tools and techniques to approach his oral aversion and feeding challenges that were not overwhelming and impossible to follow. Lindsey was so patient and so caring towards my son's situation and celebrated the small yet mighty victories that he accomplished. I would recommend Lindsey to anyone who is seeking a compassionate and caring, yet very effective, approach to your child's struggles and challenges.

Hope Breitbach Hope Breitbach

Hope Breitbach

Around 3-4 weeks after my second son was born, I knew something was wrong. He would click while nursing, was extremely gassy, and uncomfortable when laying flat. After seeing a post about someone’s child having lip and tongue ties, I started my research. I am forever grateful that my search led me and my son, Eli, to Lindsey. She evaluated us within the week, determined my son did, in fact, have both a lip and tongue tie and gave me recommendations on how to proceed. Since he was not having weight gain issues, we decided to do exercises that she provided for two weeks before revision. Lindsey provided me with handouts on exercises, videos to watch, and tons of recommendations for dental providers. Two weeks later, my son had his revision surgery. I am CONFIDENT when I say that it is only because of Lindsey and the dentist that my son and I were able to successfully nurse for 13 months. I will forever refer family, friends, and strangers to Lindsey for her services.

Reston's mom Reston's mom

Reston's mom

We are so pleased with the services we have received from Brandhorst. We had started out with speech therapy at a different clinic and just felt like there was more we needed or were missing out on. Lindsey thinks outside of the box. She is non-traditional in her approach and it is a refreshing change. She also gives suggestions for other services to seek that may help your child progress even further. We have nothing but wonderful things to say about Lindsey and her clinic and would highly recommend them to anyone!