Tongue Thrust
Understanding Tongue Thrust
Tongue thrust may involve the tongue pushing against or between the teeth during speech or swallowing. This can affect the way a child speaks, eats, and even breathes. Common causes of tongue thrust include:
- Poor oral muscle strength or tone
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- Thumb or finger-sucking habits
- Family history of tongue thrust
Common Signs of Tongue Thrust
- Speech sound errors, such as the tongue pushing forward when producing the “s” and “z” sounds.
- Open bite or dental issues due to tongue pressure.
- Difficulty swallowing, with the tongue pushing forward between the teeth.
- Open mouth breathing or open-mouth posture.
Who May Benefit from Tongue Thrust Therapy?
- Children who demonstrate speech sound errors associated with tongue thrust.
- Children with dental issues caused by tongue positioning.
- Children experiencing difficulty with swallowing due to tongue thrust.
- Children with open-mouth breathing patterns.
How Speech Therapy Can Help
Our experienced speech-language pathologists provide comprehensive evaluations to determine the presence and impact of tongue thrust. Based on the evaluation, we create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on:
- Improving oral muscle strength and coordination.
- Correcting tongue positioning during speech and swallowing.
- Enhancing overall speech intelligibility and swallowing function.
What to Expect from Our Therapy Sessions
- Assessment: We begin with a thorough assessment to understand your child’s specific needs related to tongue thrust.
- Personalized Plan: A customized therapy plan is developed to address your child’s unique goals.
- Interactive Activities: Our therapy sessions include engaging exercises to strengthen oral muscles and correct tongue positioning.
- Progress Monitoring: We continuously monitor your child’s progress and adjust the therapy plan as needed to ensure meaningful improvements.
Our Approach to Tongue Thrust Therapy
- Evidence-Based Practices: Our therapists use proven techniques and exercises to address tongue thrust and improve speech and swallowing.
- Family Involvement: We involve parents and caregivers in the therapy process to provide support and reinforcement at home.
- Positive and Encouraging Environment: We create a supportive atmosphere where children feel confident and motivated to practice their skills.
Therapeutic Techniques We Use
- Oral Motor Exercises: Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the tongue, lips, and jaw.
- Swallowing Techniques: Training on proper swallowing techniques to reduce tongue thrust.
- Speech Sound Practice: Activities to correct speech sound errors related to tongue positioning.
- Habit Modification: Strategies to eliminate habits contributing to tongue thrust, such as thumb sucking.
Benefits of Tongue Thrust Therapy
- Improved Speech Clarity: Correcting tongue positioning can enhance speech intelligibility.
- Better Dental Health: Reducing tongue pressure on teeth can help prevent dental issues.
- Enhanced Swallowing Function: Proper tongue positioning improves swallowing efficiency.
- Overall Oral Health: Strengthening oral muscles contributes to better overall oral health.
"We had the most wonderful experience with Chicago Speech Therapy! Our speech pathologist, Miss Megan, developed a bond with our son almost immediately. By week two, he would await her arrival by the window in our front door! She quickly discovered all of his favorite things and would bring so many toys of her own that would keep him engaged and wanting to talk! She gave us (parents) tons of strategies to work with on our own in between her weekly visits. Our son made consistent progress under her care and has now been released from speech therapy ~ which actually makes us so sad ~ simply because we miss Miss Megan! She basically became part of our family and will be dearly missed. I couldn’t recommend Miss Megan and Chicago Speech Therapy more!"
"The process w/ CST was smooth, from the intake process, registration, processing insurance to on-going communication. Sarah was the Speech Therapist for our 9-year-old and she established a wonderful rapport with her and gained her trust over the months. I highly recommend CST."
