Paul Laikko, a longtime speech-language pathologist on the Munroe-Meyer Institute, died July 4 at age 71.
Laikko spent 35 years on the Munroe-Meyer Institute, specializing in treating kids with extreme speech sound problems.
He had a hand in lots of success tales, getting kids to say their names or inform their dad and mom “I like you” for the primary time.
“He was only a guru with these youngsters,” stated Carol Gaebler, a speech-language pathologist who labored with Laikko because the early Nineteen Nineties. “They have been so snug with him, and he made it so enjoyable.”
MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD, stated: “Paul was an unbelievable, caring skilled and a beautiful human being. He and his work embodied every little thing that MMI stands for. We’re deeply saddened by this loss, however we’ll maintain his reminiscence, work and dedication alive.”
Laikko left a long-lasting influence on sufferers and their households, in addition to the MMI neighborhood and the bigger speech-language pathology neighborhood throughout the state, stated MMI Affiliate Director Amy Nordness, PhD.
Gaebler recalled doing pediatric swallowing research alongside Laikko. He made an disagreeable process enjoyable, she stated, by placing barium in pizza or doughnuts.
“We obtained nice research as a result of he was so affected person and sort,” Gaebler stated. “The sufferers felt like they have been having a little bit lunch with Paul.”
A memorial service for Paul Laikko might be held on the Scottish Ceremony Masonic Middle, situated at 202 S. twentieth St. in Omaha, on Saturday, July 13, at 2 p.m.
In later years, the majority of his caseload was made up of sufferers with childhood apraxia of speech.
He handled kids — usually between 2 and 4 years outdated — who weren’t making progress in remedy or faculty Laikko cast sturdy connections with these younger sufferers, who known as him “Mr. Paul,” Dr. Nordness stated.
“He had a manner of serving to that opened new doorways for teenagers,” she stated. “They liked coming to see Mr. Paul for speech remedy.”
Laikko was good at pausing and letting remedy trip for a couple of classes slightly than dashing right into a remedy. Most of the time, Gaebler stated, sitting on the ground and letting the communication come was a profitable strategy.
Listening to a toddler say their title — or name out a sibling’s title — for the primary time. Seeing Mother and Dad mild up when their youngster might lastly say, “I like you.” These sorts of highlights — plus suggestions from youngsters and households, in addition to colleagues — saved Laikko coming again to work at MMI day-after-day.
As a colleague, Laikko supplied a chilled presence and might be counted on to ship insightful suggestions, Gaebler stated. He had a hand in mentoring many members of the speech-language pathology division.
“He was an ideal listener,” she stated. “When he selected to say one thing, you would hear a pin drop as a result of it was all the time very insightful, very overarching.”
Laikko mentored many colleagues in pediatric feeding and swallowing pertaining to speech-language pathology within the NICU in addition to outpatient companies and childhood apraxia of speech, Dr. Nordness stated.
“He was so proud to see the expansion in his colleagues and was glad to cross alongside alternatives to allow them to shine,” she stated. “He all the time had time to problem-solve with others and was so considerate and mental about attending to the guts of circumstances.”
Laikko expanded his attain past MMI by collaborating with suppliers in faculties. His experience was so revered, Dr. Nordness stated, that many suppliers known as him straight to debate circumstances or made referrals particularly to him.
Laikko established the core MMI pediatric feeding and swallowing companies within the NICU at Nebraska Medication and wrote a pediatric feeding and swallowing guidebook. He additionally established collaboration with Westside Neighborhood Faculties to assist kids with childhood apraxia of speech.
Laikko was an advocate for RiteCare and labored alongside the Scottish Ceremony Masons to make sure that kids obtained the care they wanted no matter skill to pay for companies. He helped to develop the RiteCare program to what it’s in the present day, Dr. Nordness stated.
His caring and affected person persona carried over outdoors of labor, too, Gaebler stated. He and his spouse fostered a whole lot of canine and cats through the years. Lots of the critters discovered perpetually properties together with his MMI colleagues.
He saved in contact with associates in Oregon, the place he grew up, in addition to former MMI colleagues.
Laikko will depart a legacy of resilience and perseverance, MMI leaders stated.
“He simply discovered a manner,” Gaebler stated. “He had a really calming affect that allow individuals pause and take a breath.”
Laikko all the time noticed the long-term imaginative and prescient to enhance outcomes for sufferers. He labored systematically to maintain working towards that objective and he introduced his colleagues on board to attain the imaginative and prescient, Dr. Nordness stated.
“We’re so fortunate that he shared his time with us all these years,” she stated. “We’ll miss him tremendously and can proceed to work towards enhancing the outcomes of the kids we serve.”
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