This advice-column-style blog for SLPs was authored by Pam Marshalla from 2006 to 2015, the archives of which can be explored here. Use the extensive keywords list found in the right-hand column (on mobile: at the bottom of the page) to browse specific topics, or use the search feature to locate specific words or phrases throughout the entire blog.
“Marshalla Eye Dropper Technique” For Drooling Elimination
By Pam Marshalla
This opinion paper was originally posted as a downloadable PDF on my website, authored in November, 2012. Download the original PDF here.
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“Marshalla Eye Dropper Technique”
For Drooling Elimination
November 2012, Pam Marshalla, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Application
This simple process is to be done in conjunction with a good program to facilitate improved oral-motor and feeding skills. It can be employed even if child is on medication or has had surgery to reduce or eliminate drooling. This method is intended to finish off the drooling problem.
Progress
Length of time needed for success depends upon the client’s neuromuscular and cognitive status. Some clients will not stop drooling with this program due to severe neuromuscular or cognitive disability.
Evidence
Please keep in mind that this process has not undergone any controlled study. This outline simply represents the procedures Marshalla developed in therapy. The method is based on four decades of clinical experimentation with a wide variety of clients.
WARNING: DO NOT USE THIS PROGRAM IF THE PATIENT IS IN DANGER OF ASPIRATING ON LIQUID! USE ONLY WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE CLEARED FOR ORAL SWALLOWS OF THIN LIQUIDS!
Materials Needed: Use an eyedropper of some sort, and icy cold water or icy cold apple juice. Pam likes to use the long thin droppers that hair stylists use to touch up the roots of dyed hair. These droppers are plastic, long, thin, and inexpensive.
Basic Procedure: Give the child a tiny sip (2-3ccs) from the dropper every 90 seconds while he is engaged in another quiet activity.
Term: Weave the stimulation in and out of therapy over the course of weeks, months, or years, depending upon the client.
Method
- Tell the child, “Time to suck.”
- Place the dropper just between the lips, against the under side of the upper lip. DO NOT put it all the way into the mouth––keep it outside the teeth. Do not stimulate the tongue—only the upper lip. The tip of the dropper should be positioned against the under side of the upper lip, between the upper and lower incisors.
- Encourage the child to “get it” meaning that he will actively bring up the lower lip. The lips should press together to the point of complete closure. The tiny tip of the dropper should not interfere with full lip closure.
- Once the lips are sealed closed, squeeze the bulb of the dropper so that the liquid shoots into the mouth. This should stimulate a swallow. [See warning above.]
- Over time, squeeze the bulb less, and expect the client to suction by himself more. In other words, hold the dropper to the lips, but don’t squeeze. Expect the client to suction on demand.
- Over time, fade use of the dropper. In other words, tell the client to swallow without the dropper, and expect him to do it. This is called a “dry swallow.” The dry swallow is a swallow of saliva only.
Over Time
- Reduce the amount of bulb squeezing and increase the number of times the child actually suctions by himself.
- Eliminate the squeeze altogether and expect the child to suction the liquid out.
- Eliminate the eyedropper and have the child suction on your command with no liquid offering (Make sure you are using a consistent command throughout).
- Broaden the types of activities during which you are doing this activity.
- Fade your physical and verbal cues.
Aims/Goals
- You are trying to get the client to suction more often so that he does not let saliva pool and drip.
- You are trying to get the client to swallow more often so that he does not let saliva pool and drip.
- You are trying to pair suctioning and swallowing, so that suctioning stimulates swallowing.
- You are trying to stimulate more frequent swallowing.
- You are trying to stimulate more efficient swallowing.
- You are trying to bring the process of suctioning and swallowing to the client’s conscious awareness so that he can produce a dry swallow on demand.
Expectations
- Spontaneous dry swallows should become more frequent.
- Swallowing skill and efficiency should improve.
- Saliva pooling should decrease.
- Drooling should decrease.
Effect
This procedure stimulates SUCTIONING and SWALLOWING. Suctioning is the drawing in, or gathering together, of liquid or food in preparation for swallowing. We suction to clear the mouth before we swallow. Suctioning is done with full lip closure and negative inter-oral air pressure.
Can you use this method with adults who drool?
Of course. Any method that works for a child can work for an adult. You just have to change the approach and vocabulary of the event. Make it sound more sophisticated.
Is this method appropriate for a child with very low cognitive skills who has poor receptive and no expressive language?
This method is appropriate for any client who drools.
I am using this technique on a preschooler who was a very persistent drooler. I tried all my usual tricks to no avail – before I discovered this blog post. I only see him once per week and mom said she is unable to get him to practice at home. Even so, the results are very impressive! He was very reluctant and refused the dropper completely initially. He was extremely sensitive around his mouth.
I started slowly (over weeks) with a moist toothette touched to his lips, then a dry maroon spoon in his mouth, then the spoon with the interval timer, then the spoon with a drop of room temperature water on it, then a dry dropper, and finally the dropper with room temp water, he is just now started to suck the water himself. His drooling and spitting has decreased significantly. As an added benefit, this child (who had an extremely limited diet – and spit out most food) has started to show an interest in food and is starting to put new foods to his lips!
Excellent Sherri. I hope you can help him all the way on this.
Amazing! I would like to try this method. Good to know it worked for your patient.
What other techniques can be used for a Spastic CP kid with aspiration of liquids, i have been doing feeding therapy for him, now his aspiration is reduced than before , but sometimes he still chokes, so i am hesitant to try out this technique, he has a low jaw fixed posture ,doesnot have neck control, he is too spastic, he is undergoing physiotherapy. Any suggestions please
Since Pam Marshalla passed away in 2015, OMI Board Chair Robyn Merkel-Walsh MA, CCC-SLP, COM, answers blog questions for us. Here is her reply:
For a case with aspiration issues, you may need to look at what pre-feeding skills are missing and start there before working with actual liquid, in addition to consulting with PT on protecting the airway through position of the head and neck. Two books have detailed Pre feeding info and even though they are for pediatrics the same skills need to be in place:
Morris and Klein: Pre Feeding Skills
Overland and Merkel Walsh: A Sensory Motor Approach to Feeding