ARK's Blog

Oral motor therapy works on the oral skills necessary for proper speech and feeding development.  These skills include: awareness, strength, coordination, movement, and endurance of the lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw.  The activities below are an easy way to work on these skills.  Incorporate them into your daily routine whenever you have time.  Practice them on the way to schoo …

Question:  I am working with a 2-year-old with CP.  I cannot get him to take consecutive bites of food.  He takes one bite and lets it sit in his mouth until it dissolves, then swallows it.  I have to prompt him to open his mouth and take another bite.  I am using the Z-Vibe on sides of mouth, he will bite one time, then I have to prompt him to open mouth. Any ideas? &n …

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 …