Lori Johnson MS, CCC-SLP is the developer of the Textured Spoons and owner of Johnson Therapeutic, LLC. Her experience as a speech-language pathologist ranges from the school setting to outpatient and inpatient hospital settings. The concept of the Textured Spoons originated in 2003 as a result of working with children and adults with oral-motor and oral-sensory feeding issues. The Textured Spoons were first offered in the small size and within a short time, feedback was provided by families and therapists requesting the need for a larger version of this spoon, which is now available as well.
When exhibiting at the 2005 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention in San Diego, Lori was introduced to Bruce and Barbara Ryan, both speech-language pathologists, who invented the Tongue LifteR. The concept behind their product was to establish appropriate lingual placement to produce /r/ during articulation therapy. Johnson Therapeutic, LLC offered guidance and recommendations regarding the process to transition the Tongue LifteR prototype to a completed product, meeting all safety requirements for its intended use.
The Textured Spoons and the Tongue LiftR are available for purchase through Johnson Therapeutic, LLC and wholesale distributors within the United States and internationally.