Oral Habits Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Marshalla Speech & Language

Tag: Oral Habits

“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. *** “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…

“Gummy Smile”

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I have a new referral from a dentist for a client with a “gummy smile.” Haven’t seen him yet. What do you think this means? I would assume that the term “gummy smile” means that the upper lip is retracted and the upper gums are exposed. Assuming that this is the case, the client needs to learn normal oral rest posture. Normal oral rest consists of the lips resting gently together, the teeth resting a few millimeters apart, and…

“It hurts”: Helping Clients Handle Oral Input

By Pam Marshalla

Q: When I try to use a tongue depressor or any other tool in my client’s mouth, he backs off right away and says, “It hurts.” He does this even before I use the tool to touch his mouth or do anything. I don’t think he’s hypersensitive. I think he’s refusing just to refuse. He is four-years-old and I am trying to elicit a K and a G. I think you are right. A little guy like that may use…

Exposed Upper Teeth

By Pam Marshalla

Q: One of my high school students has a tense upper lip, which interferes with correct productions of P, B, and M, although she can produce labials in structured tasks. She also chews with her mouth open and makes smacking sounds. The resting position of her mouth often reveals her teeth, and her tense upper lip is noticeable. How can I improve her articulation as well as her looks and eating habits? Your client needs a program of orofacial myology…

Oral Habits and Dentition

By Pam Marshalla

Q: Why does an oral habit like thumb sucking effect the oral structures in some children but not others? I have seen kids who suck their thumbs who have no dental problems, and I have seen kids who suck their thumbs who have terrible open bites. As I understand things, any oral habit can affect oral structures depending upon the following three factors–– Frequency –– How often the client engages in the habit. Once per day? Ten times per day?…

Stimulating [+Anterior] Phonemes with a Thumb Sucking Habit

By Pam Marshalla

Q: My client only produces [+Back] consonants K and G, and he sucks his thumb. His tongue is beginning to move for L. Do you think that the thumb sucking is keeping his tongue retracted? Tongue retraction can have many causes including an oral habit like thumb sucking. It also can be the result of oral-tactile hypersensitivity that is causing the tongue to pull back and high in a perpetual “high guard” position. It also is a problem when oral muscle…

Lip-Biting Habit

By Pam Marshalla

Q: My client constantly bites her lower lip until it swells and bleeds. She is highly intelligent, five years old, hypertonic, and has vision difficulties. Do you have suggestions? I have never faced this situation, but I believe that the principles of helping a child stop any oral habit would apply. You have to help the child recognize what she is doing, help her understand the problems it causes, help her develop a goal for stopping, set up a reward…

Eliminating Tooth Grinding

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I have two girls with Down syndrome who grind their teeth on a regular basis. They are the same age and function at about the same level. What strategies would you use to help with this area? This is a tough question. We have no widely accepted strategies to eliminate tooth grinding other than the dental guard recommended by dentists. But my thinking has always been that if you can pinpoint the cause, then you can design a solution…

Homework for Open Mouth Posture?

By Pam Marshalla

Q: I have a preschooler with an open mouth posture and forward tongue carriage. What homework for parents would you suggest? Should the Mom remind her to keep her mouth closed during play? Treatment and homework activities depend completely upon the cause of the problem. She keeps her mouth open too much of the time. Why? The answer to that question guides your assignment of any activities, whether they are performed in the therapy room or at home. There can…

Habitual Tongue-Clicking in Low-Functioning Client

By Pam Marshalla

An SLP wrote about a 12-year-old client with cerebral palsy who constantly makes sucking noises with her tongue. The therapist was seeking information about how to eliminate the habitual sucking that was distracting in the classroom. More information about this client was gained through email exchange. The additional information and my responses are offered here. The client has a cognitive age of 6 months With a cognitive level of 6 months this client is functioning just above the reflex level,…