Tongue Thrust/ Myofunctional Disorders

Tongue thrust or myofunctional disorders describe a swallowing pattern in which the tongue pushes against or between the teeth with contraction of facial muscles. It also describes the resting position of the tongue. This can effect dentition as well as speech patterns.

Factors that contribute to myofunctional disorder:

• Allergies, nasal congestion, nasal obstruction, or enlarged adenoids which result in mouth breathing and cause the posture of the tongue to be very low in the mouth.
• Large tonsils or frequent throat infections which cause abnormal swallowing and poor tongue/lip posture.
• Short lingual frenulum
• Thumb/finger sucking or tongue sucking
• Abnormally large tongue
• Heredity factors and growth patterns of the face (such as jaw angle)
• Neurological musculature or other physiological abnormalities

William E. and Julie Zickefoose

Certified Orofacial Myologists

Oral Motor Activities

This week several students who are working to improve articulation skills have begun practicing oral motor exercises with Mrs. DeYoung.

Oral Motor Activities for Tongue Elevation

• Bite on a toothbrush as you move your tongue to different places in the mouth. Do not drop the toothbrush.
• Practice licking popsicles or pretzel sticks. Move your tongue, not the stick!
• Put peanut butter on the roof of the mouth and try to lick it off
• Put a small piece of food (cheerio, raisin, etc) on the tongue. Hold it there for 5-10 seconds. Lift the item to the hard palate (roof of the mouth).
• Click your tongue 5 times.
• Say “kkk” “ggg” a few times. Watch the back of the tongue go up.
• Brush the sides of the tongue with a toothbrush. Then raise your tongue so the sides of your tongue are spread along the top teeth. Slide your tongue back and forth against the teeth.
  

Cooperative Learning In Speech Groups

Cooperative learning is a generic term for various small group interactive instructional procedures. Students work together on academic tasks in small groups to help themselves and their teammates learn together. In general, cooperative learning methods share the following five characteristics.
Student work together on common tasks or learning activities hat are best handled through group work.

Students work together in small groups containing two to five members.

Students use cooperative, pro-social behavior to accomplish their common tasks or learning activities.

Students are positively interdependent. Activities are structured so that students need each other to accomplish their common tasks or learning activities.

Students are individually accountable or responsible for their work or learning.

Speech Therapy Sessions

Mrs. DeYoung has begun seeing students with IEP's for speech therapy. Parents have received a letter indicating when their child is scheduled for service.

Parents of students who are recommended for the Sound Improvement program have also been contacted. This is an intervention being offered to children in compliance with the Response to Intervention (RTI) program which allows for speech and language service without being placed in special education.

Please contact Mrs. DeYoung if you have any questions or concerns about the speech and language programs at Prairieview and Lakeview. We are looking forward to a great year!

Mrs. Marilyn DeYoung
Speech Language Pathologist
Center Cass Dist. 66
Prairieview and Lakeview
(630) 783-5157
mdeyoung@ccsd66.org