ARK's Blog

When working on articulation, I often find it best to begin the session with an auditory discrimination activity.  Not only does this help children better hear their own speech, but it also helps them settle into therapy and focus their attention. Auditory discrimination is the ability to tell the difference between correct and incorrect speech sounds.  Some kids struggle with …

Tongue tip elevation is the ability to lift the tip of one's tongue up to the alveolar ridge (the spot just behind the upper front teeth).  As a shorthand, we often call this location "on spot," as in, "get your tongue tip on spot!" Tongue tip elevation is an oral motor skill necessary to say certain speech sounds (t, d, n, l, s, and z).  It's also where the tongue should rest …

For any therapist seeking to specialize in feeding, the best piece of advice I could give you is to become a sponge.  Take courses and workshops, read as many articles as you can, talk to and learn from your colleagues, join special interest groups on Facebook and ASHA etc., follow blogs, observe other therapy sessions, and don’t forget - learn from the children you treat as well.  …

Question:  Hi, I am a dental hygienist looking for ideas on treating patients with SPD in the dental setting.  Can you give me some suggestions?  Thank you! .  If the patient has sensory issues in the mouth, then they may require a lot of desensitizing before they could even go to a dentist and/or tolerate anything in their mouth.  This oral sensitivity is …