Improving Jaw Strength & Stability
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 22nd Aug 2013
The tongue is connected to the jaw, so wherever the jaw goes, the tongue follows. Speech sounds are properly articulated when the jaw and tongue are at midline and symmetrical. So if the jaw and tongue slide left or right as you talk, it can cause a lateral lisp and unclear/slushy speech.
Having control over your jaw is also important for
biting and chewing skills, for holding your jaw in
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Teaching the Concept of Biting and Chewing
Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 22nd Feb 2012
For infants, learning how to bite and chew is a crucial stage of feeding development. At approximately 5-6 months of age, babies begin using their fingers and mouths for oral exploration using a bite and release pattern. The development of biting and chewing continues from this point on, with the baby refining the movements of the jaw, tongue, and lips. When infants miss a part o
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