Oral Motor & Feeding Therapy
We assess and improve the coordination, mobility and strength of the complex structures needed for speaking and safe eating, drinking and breathing.
The Benefits of Oral Motor Therapy
Empowering children with the foundations they need for vital daily functions, from speech clarity to safe nutrition to improved nasal breathing.
Stronger Oral Muscles
Building the necessary strength and range of motion in the lips, tongue, and jaw for improved functional control.
Clearer Speech
Mastering precision and coordination to help children produce sounds accurately and be better understood by others.
Safer Chewing & Swallowing
Improving motor patterns for effective chewing and safe swallowing, supporting a positive and healthy mealtime experience.
Improved Nasal Breathing
Supporting healthier nasal breathing patterns, and help with sleep, focus and overall comfort.
Oral Motor Dysfunction Signs
When the muscles of our mouth fail to work properly, many issues can arise which include:
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Difficulty breast feeding
- Difficulty bottle feeding
- Difficulty transitioning to solids
- Picky eating
- Difficulty controlling saliva
- Oral seeking
- Poor tolerance to tummy time
- Delayed speech
- Delayed gross motor skillsImpaired swallow
- Sleep issues
- Oral habits
- Poor dentition and/or teeth grinding
- Recessed chin
- Enlarged tonsils
- Frequent ear infections
- Dark circles under eyes
- Excessive drooling
Signs Of Oral Motor Dysfunction When Eating & Drinking
Difficulty Chewing food thoroughly
Gags on certain textures or new foods
Difficulty keeping food or liquid in mouth
limited food choices
Avoids Eating or takes a long time to finish a meal
Often Coughs After Drinking
Therapy Techniques
We use specific oral motor exercises to improve the strength, function, and coordination of muscles involved in chewing, swallowing, speech, and nasal breathing. Techniques include:
Tongue Exercises
Implement specific tongue exercises to enhance tongue mobility and control, which is essential for speech articulation, chewing and swallowing.
Oral Tactile Stimulation
Use various textures and tactile stimuli to desensitize the mouth and increase tolerance for different food textures.
Lip and Cheek Exercises
Exercises to improve lip and cheek strength, aiding in effective sealing and lip closure to reduce drooling and promote proper swallowing and nasal breathing.
Chewing Practice
Promote and practice proper chewing using age-appropriate foods to improve chewing skills and texture acceptance.
Jaw Exercises
Focus on exercises to promote jaw stability and mobility, crucial for proper chewing and speech production and clarity.
Swallowing Techniques
Teach and practice appropriate swallowing techniques to reduce choking and improve safe swallowing.
Ready to begin?
Reach out to schedule an evaluation with us today.