How to Teach Straw Drinking
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 9th Nov 2011
1. To start, cut a regular straw in half. Not only is a shorter straw easier to handle, but it also takes less strength for a child to suck liquid from a shorter straw.
2. Dip the straw into a cup with liquid preferred by the child. Place the tip of your pointer finger over the top of the straw to keep the liquid in the straw. Remove the straw from the cup, keeping the top o
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Tongue Lateralization and Protrusion
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 26th Sep 2011
Question: Do you have a tool to increase tongue protrusion and tongue lateralization?
We do! ARK's
Oro-Navigator was specifically created to help individuals "get" the concept of tongue lateralization. It's very easy to use. Simply place the cuff on the side of the tongue and guide the tongue from one side of the mouth to the opposite side. Th
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Oral Defensiveness & Aversions
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 2nd Aug 2011
Oral defensiveness falls into two main categories: HYPOsensitivity and HYPERsensitivity:
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• Individuals with hyposensitivities have low oral tone and very little awareness of what's going on inside their mouths. This "oral numbness" so to speak can cause significant speech and feeding delays. For example, the ability to create a food bolus is a critical oral motor skill n
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Strengthening Mouth Muscles
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 7th Jul 2011
My daughter's speech therapist suggested we have my daughter sip thick liquids (i.e. yogurt, chocolate pudding, etc.) through a straw to work on strengthening mouth muscles. I have not been able to find straws thick enough to work. Do you have a suggestion?
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Drinking out of a straw (any straw) in general is a great way to help individuals learn how to keep the lips closed, how
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