Oral Motor Therapy
Strength and coordination for the lips, tongue and jaw.
Suitable for ages 1 – 12 years
Overview
Oral motor therapy strengthens and coordinates the muscles used for chewing, swallowing and speech. It is often delivered alongside feeding or speech therapy when weak lip closure, poor tongue mobility or an unstable jaw limits progress.
Techniques include jaw grading exercises, lip and tongue strengthening, blowing and straw hierarchies, vibration and targeted oral sensory input — always paired with functional eating or speech practice.
Signs your child may need this therapy
- Persistent drooling beyond age two
- Open-mouth posture and mouth breathing
- Food pocketing in the cheeks or messy eating
- Difficulty drinking through a straw
- Weak, imprecise speech sounds
- Prolonged chewing or swallowing food whole
Benefits of Oral Motor Therapy
- Reduced drooling
- Stronger, more coordinated chewing
- Safer swallowing
- Clearer articulation
- Better lip closure and jaw stability
- Improved tolerance of textured foods
Treatment process
- STEP 1
Detailed OT evaluation
A 60–75 minute session covering developmental history, sensory profile, muscle tone, coordination, hand skills and daily-living independence, using tools such as the Sensory Profile-2 and DASII/Peabody-based motor measures.
- STEP 2
Shared goal setting
We translate findings into 3–5 functional goals that matter at home and school — holding a pencil, sitting through a meal, tolerating a haircut, buttoning a shirt.
- STEP 3
Individual therapy plan
Your child receives a written plan specifying session frequency, activity progression, equipment used and the home programme that supports it.
- STEP 4
Weekly play-based sessions
45-minute one-to-one sessions in our sensory gym and fine-motor studio. Activities are graded so your child is always working just beyond their comfort zone, never past it.
- STEP 5
Parent training
The last 10 minutes of every session are for you: what we did, why, and the two or three things to practise before the next visit.
- STEP 6
Progress review
Formal re-assessment every 12 weeks with a written report, updated goals and a discharge pathway once targets are met.
FAQ
Oral Motor Therapy — your questions answered
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Not sure where to start? Begin with an assessment.
One hour with our team gives you a clear picture of your child's development and a written plan you can act on — whether or not you continue therapy with us.