ARK's Blog

Question:  Could you please tell me what purpose vibration serves when working on oral motor tasks, as well as whether or not it is a required element for children to make oral motor gains?Great question!  Sometimes just touching the lips, tongue, cheeks, etc. doesn't provide enough input.  Vibration offers a new level of tactile awareness for individuals who need additional sens …

What is the frequency and duration of use that you recommend for vibration during therapy? This will vary according to each person's sensory preferences.  Some individuals may not be able to tolerate a lot of stimulation, while others may crave it.   Either way, I always recommend introducing the  Z-Vibe slowly (at least until they are comfortable with it).  Use it wit …

While many kids outgrow grinding their teeth, intervention may be necessary if they don't.  Tooth grinding over a prolonged period (especially with permanent teeth) may put them at risk for worn-down teeth, tooth sensitivity, jaw pain, headaches, etc.  There is no one accepted reason as to why it happens, but there are several factors that may be contributing to the problem: . . …

I can't stress enough the importance of homework exercises.  With consistent practice, children progress through their speech/feeding goals noticeably if not significantly faster.  For example, I recently saw a child with an L distortion in a private school. She was four-years-old, and I knew the parents were very conscientious about her development.  After providing a tactile cu …