Oral Placement Therapy

Get in touch

Our Address:

Hyderabad

Work Time:

Mon-Fri 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM Sat-Sun 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Call Us:

71 (800) 765-43-21, 1 (801) 777-24-12

What is Oral Placement Therapy (OPT)?

Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) is a subset of speech therapy that focuses on improving the muscle strength, coordination, and movement of the mouth (lips, tongue, jaw) to enhance speech production and feeding skills.

OPT uses tactile tools (e.g., straws, chew tubes, or vibratory devices) and exercises to target oral motor skills, often for children who struggle with articulation or swallowing due to muscle weakness or sensory issues.

Benefits for Children with Autism, ADHD, and Learning Disabilities

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

    • How it Helps: Children with ASD often have sensory or motor challenges affecting speech clarity or feeding (e.g., difficulty chewing). OPT strengthens oral muscles and improves sensory awareness, making speech and eating easier.

    • Benefits: Enhances articulation, reduces drooling, and improves feeding abilities, which can boost confidence and reduce sensory-related anxiety. It’s particularly helpful for children with apraxia of speech (difficulty planning speech movements).

    • Example: A child with ASD who struggles to form clear words may use chewing exercises to strengthen jaw muscles, improving speech clarity.

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

    • How it Helps: Children with ADHD may have impulsive speech patterns or unclear articulation due to poor motor control. OPT improves muscle coordination, helping them speak more deliberately and clearly.

    • Benefits: Enhances speech clarity, supports self-regulation during conversations, and improves social communication, making interactions smoother.

    • Example: A child with ADHD who speaks too quickly may use OPT exercises like straw blowing to slow down and articulate better.

• Learning Disabilities:

    • How it Helps: Children with learning disabilities may struggle with articulation or phonological processing, impacting reading and speaking. OPT strengthens oral motor skills to support clearer speech and better sound production.

    • Benefits: Improves pronunciation, supports reading aloud, and reduces frustration in verbal tasks, enhancing academic and social confidence.

    • Example: A child with a learning disability who mispronounces words may use tongue exercises to improve clarity, aiding oral reading skills.

Ready to support your child’s communication? Contact us!