Q: I have been teaching R using your L-to-R sliding and tapping methods. However the further back my client tries to pull his tongue-tip the more it pulls to his left. He cannot keep it at midline past the middle of his palate, and he is not able to get a good R.

I have not encountered this, but these are the methods I would use to address it–

• Have him use his finger, or another tool, and trace down the midline of the palate to “mark” the trail of midline trajectory.
• Draw a picture of the palate with him and make sure he understands the concept of midline.
• Have him watch in a mirror so he can monitor the midline.
• Have him pull all the way to the right instead. This may keep it at midline.
• Have him smile broadly while sliding or tapping to see if that lateral pull to both sides helps straighten it out.
• Have him bite down on straws on both sides of his molars simultaneously to see if that extra tension on both sides helps it to stay midline.
• Make sure to tell him in plain words what is going on: “You are letting your tongue go to the left… You have to keep it right in the middle.”