Client Testimonial
"My child uses the Grabber® and Grabber XT® in Speech Therapy. She is now beginning to bite and chew.
Thank you for designing such wonderful oral motor tools."
Sincerely,
Jean
For Straw Difficulties
To work on a weak suck, the Preefer Tip and/or the ProPreefer work well. The Preefer Tip is to be used with either the Z-Vibe® or the DnZ-Vibe®. The ProPreefer has the same tip, but is a non-vibratory alternative. Place the tip between the lips and pull it in and out to stimulate a suck.
Flexi cups are great for seeing what the upper lip is doing when working on improving a weak suck. Support should be given to the chin, stretch the upper lip down, and you may have to give some cheek support. Make sure the head doesn't tilt back, and a slight chin tuck may help. After there is a tiny bit of liquid in the mouth, you can put your pinkie under the chin and push up while you have your thumb under the pink of the lower lip. This should keep the mouth closed. Water and juice are considered thin liquids and CAN be difficult to manage. You can thicken them with puréed baby foods or just let them drink a tiny bit of the puréed food.
To work on strengthening mouth muscles, try ARK's Lip Blok tools. These mouthpieces can be inserted into the top of most standard drinking straws. They come in three different sizes: ¾ inch, ½ inch, and ¼ inch. You start with the longest (¾") size, and then as soon as it becomes easy to use that length, you progress to the next length level (½") and then the next (¼"). The orange and purple Lip Bloks are made out of a flexible material so that you can cut the stem to any custom length level. The time frame between levels can vary for each individual, from one week or even longer. ARK's Lip Blok tools will work the mouth muscles naturally to improve lip closure and tongue position.
Straws are a great way to help individuals learn how to keep the lips closed, how to keep the tongue inside the mouth, how to improve cheek strength, etc. Our Sip-Tip®, Cip-Kup®, Bear Bottle, One-Way Straws, and valves all help with straw drinking. For more specific information on any of these items, click on their product image in this category.
ARK Therapeutic Services, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of speech therapy products, oral motor tools, and other healthcare products. All products manufactured by ARK are made from medical grade resins that contain no lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA, or latex. ARK Therapeutic is registered with the FDA and its products, where applicable, are registered with the FDA.
