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Swallowing Exercises: How to Do Tongue-Strengthening Exercises

What are tongue-strengthening exercises.

Tongue-strengthening exercises can help improve your swallowing. With practice, these exercises may help you increase your tongue strength and mobility. This may improve your ability to swallow, especially when used with other types of swallowing exercises.

Before you swallow, you chew your food to a size, shape, and consistency that can be swallowed. When you swallow, this material passes through your mouth and into a part of your throat called the pharynx. From there, the chewed food passes through a long tube (esophagus) before entering your stomach and the rest of your digestive tract.

This movement requires a series of coordinated actions from your muscles along this path. If something doesn't work properly, it can lead to problems swallowing. Muscle weakness in these areas can make proper swallowing difficult. Swallowing exercises can increase strength, mobility, and control of these muscles. Over time, this may help you to swallow normally again.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) may prescribe specific swallowing exercises to improve your swallowing. The specific exercises will depend on your swallowing problem.

Suppose, for example, you have a problem with the first phase of swallowing, before the food leaves your mouth. If so, you may benefit from working the muscles in this region, like your cheeks, tongue, and lips. In this case, tongue exercises might be helpful. Specifically, tongue-strengthening exercises may help you manipulate your food inside your mouth and move the material into your pharynx.

Your SLP might recommend different swallowing exercises if your problem is in later stages of swallowing.

You can do these exercises in your hospital room or at home. Often you can do them on your own, but you may also work with a health professional to practice these exercises.

Why might I need tongue-strengthening exercises?

You might need to practice tongue-strengthening exercises if you have trouble swallowing. This is a medical condition called dysphagia.

Dysphagia can lead to aspiration. This is when food or other material accidentally enters the airways or lungs. This is serious, because it can lead to pneumonia and other problems. Dysphagia requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.

As part of your treatment plan, your doctor and SLP may prescribe swallowing exercises, such as tongue-strengthening exercises. This may be in addition to other treatments such as dietary changes, changes in eating position, medicines, or surgery. Over time, these exercises can strengthen your swallowing muscles. This, in turn, may improve your swallowing and prevent aspiration.

Different medical conditions can lead to swallowing problems. Some examples are:

• Head and neck cancer
• Head injury
• Conditions that reduce saliva such as Sjögren syndrome
• Parkinson disease or other nervous system conditions
• Muscular dystrophies
• Blockage in the esophagus such as from a tumor or history of intubation
• History of radiation, chemotherapy or both to the neck or throat for cancer

Your SLP may be more likely to prescribe tongue-strengthening exercises if he or she suspects you are having trouble with your first phase of swallowing. For example, this might happen from a stroke or with dementia.

What are the risks of tongue-strengthening exercises?

Tongue-strengthening exercises and other swallowing exercises are safe. If you have pain or discomfort during these exercises, temporarily stop doing them. Let your doctor or therapist know right away. Don’t practice these exercises unless someone from your medical team specifically prescribes them to you for your medical condition.

How do I get ready for tongue-strengthening exercises?

Before you start your tongue strengthening exercises, you may need to change your positioning. Your SLP will give you specific instructions on how to do this, if needed. For example, it may be better if you do these exercises while out of bed.

It is also helpful to remove distractions from your environment. Turn off the TV, and do them at a time when you won’t have visitors. This will let you fully focus on your exercises and receive the most benefit from them. You can do these exercises at any time that is convenient for you.

Your SLP can let you know if there is anything else you need to do before getting started.

What happens during tongue-strengthening exercises?

Your SLP can show you the specific exercises you should do and explain how often to do them. As an example, you may be asked to:

• Stick out your tongue as far as you can. Put something flat like a spoon or tongue depressor on your tongue. Push against your tongue with the flat object, and push your tongue against the object. Hold for a couple of seconds. Repeat 5 times.
• Repeat the exercise above 5 times. This time, put the spoon or depressor below your tongue instead.
• Extend your tongue as far as possible to the corner of your mouth while pushing against a depressor. Hold for a couple of seconds. Relax. Repeat on the other side of your mouth. Repeat the whole process 5 times.
• Extend your tongue to the bumpy part on the top of your mouth right behind your teeth. Then curl your tongue back toward the back of your mouth as far as possible. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat 5 times.

Your SLP might prescribe other exercises to improve your strength and range of motion at the base of your tongue and help you swallow in other ways. As example, you may be asked to:

• Inhale and hold your breath very tightly. Bear down like you are having a bowel movement. Keep holding your breath and bearing down as you swallow. This is called a super-supraglottic swallow. Repeat a few times.
• Pretend to gargle while holding your tongue back as far as possible. Repeat.
• Pretend to yawn while holding your tongue back as far as possible. Repeat.
• Do a dry swallow, squeezing all of your swallowing muscles as tightly as you can. Imagine swallowing a vitamin whole, without water. Repeat a few times.

In most cases, you’ll be practicing tongue-strengthening exercises along with other types of swallowing exercises, like exercises to strengthen your cheeks and lips. If so, do these in the same order each time, so you don’t leave any exercises out. Your healthcare team can plan a series of exercises that specifically targets the source of your swallowing problem.

Your SLP can tell you specifically how to do each exercise and how often you should practice it. In many cases, you’ll need to practice your exercises several times a day for the most benefit.

What happens after tongue-strengthening exercises?

You can resume your normal activities right after practicing your tongue-strengthening and other swallowing exercises.

It’s a good idea to keep a record every time you do your swallowing exercises. This serves as a reminder to you to do your exercises as prescribed. It also provides helpful feedback on your progress to your SLP. Make a note of what exercises you did and when you did them. Also note any problems, so you can discuss them with your SLP.

Your SLP and medical team may change your exercises, as the team monitors your progress. This monitoring may include bedside swallowing exams or additional imaging techniques, like fiberoptic evaluation of swallowing. It may take a few weeks to notice an improvement in your swallowing.

As your ability to swallow improves, your risk of aspiration will decrease. Your SLP may be able to change your diet and allow you to eat certain types of food again. This can improve your nutritional intake, your overall health, and your quality of life.

Continue to practice all of your swallowing exercises as prescribed by your SLP. If you miss practice session, you may have less improvement. Work closely with all the members of your healthcare team to properly treat your condition.

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Swallowing Exercises

The following exercises and associated videos are only to be used under the explicit guidance of your physician or speech-language pathologist (SLP). You must consult your physician or medical specialist before using these exercises. If you feel pain or experience unusual symptoms while performing any of these exercises, stop the exercise immediately and consult your medical team before any further use. Read and understand all instructions carefully before using.

Your physician or speech-language pathologist will select which exercises are useful to improving your swallowing function. If an exercise is not selected, do not attempt it without consulting your medical team. They will develop a program customized and unique to the needs of each patient. This includes the number of repetitions, the number of seconds each exercise should be performed, and the rest period between exercises.

A two page PDF available in both English and Spanish are available by clicking the link below. These can be printed by your clinician to allow them to customize your swallowing exercise routine.

This information (instruction and videos), unless otherwise noted, have been provided to the NFOSD by the UC Davis Health System, Department of Otolaryngology and Nancy Swigert, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, F-ASHA and colleagues. The material is copyrighted. All rights associated with this copyrighted material will be enforced. It is being made available free of charge to all physicians and speech language pathologists to be used by their patients.

1. Effortful Swallow: Collect all the saliva in your mouth onto the center of your tongue. Keep your lips closed and tight together. Pretend you are swallowing a grape whole in one big, hard swallow. The number of repetitions is patient specific. Click here for Video.

2.   Isokinetic (dynamic) Shaker: The number of repetitions defined by your clinician is considered a set. You should perform the set twice (resting briefly between each set). You should then rest for two minutes and then repeat this exercise as many times as directed by your clinician. Ignore the number of repetitions and sets as directed in the video. Click here for Video. The number of repetitions and sets are patient specific.

3. Isometric (static) Shaker: Click here for Video. The length of each repetition and the number of repetitions is set by your clinician. Rest for one minute between repetitions.

4.  Jaw Thrust: Move your lower jaw as far forward as you can. Your lower teeth should be in front of your upper teeth. Click here for Video. Note, patients with jaw replacement should use extra caution before performing this exercise so as not to stress the jaw bone. The length of time for each repetition and number of repetitions is patient specific.

5.  Lollipop Swallowing: Click here for Video. Place a sugarless lollipop in your mouth and lick. Lick three times and then do an effortful swallow with your lips firmly pressed together. Swallow as hard as you can. The number of repetitions is patient specific.

6.  Masako Maneuver: Stick your tongue out of your mouth between your front teeth and gently bite down to hold it in place. Swallow while keeping your tongue gently between your teeth. You can let go of your tongue between swallows and repeat. Click here for Video. The number of repetitions is patient specific.

7.  Mendelsohn Maneuver: Place your middle three fingers (index, middle, ring) on your Adam’s Apple (the skin in front of your neck beneath your chin). Swallow once to practice. Feel your Adams Apple slide upward as you swallow. Now, swallow again and when your Adam’s Apple gets to its highest position in the throat, squeeze your throat muscles and hold it as high as you can for as long as your clinician has directed for this exercise (or as long as you can if you can’t hold it for this length of time). Click here for Video. The length of time for each repetition and number of repetitions is patient specific.

8.   Yawn : The goal of this exercise is to increase the strength of the back of the tongue and throat muscles. Yawn and when you get into a big stretch, hold that position for as long as indicated. Click here for Video.

9.  Supraglottic Maneuver: Perform this exercise if and only if directed by your clinician. Your clinician should also provide direction as to the position of your head (tucked, right, left, straight). Collect a small bit of saliva in mouth. Take a deep breath and hold your breath (if the vocal folds are not closed then try to inhale and say ah, turn off your voice and hold your breath). Keep holding your breath while you swallow. Immediately after you swallow, cough. Practice with saliva prior to food or liquid. Click here for Video. The number of repetitions is patient specific.

10.  Tongue Strength Exercise: Using a tongue depressor, press the tip of your tongue out against the tongue depressor. Put the tongue depressor on the tip of your tongue and push up. To exercise the middle part of your tongue, put the tongue depressor towards the middle of your tongue and push up against the roof of your mouth. To exercise the back of the tongue, say the “k” sound, then put the tongue depressor on the spot of the tongue that made contact with the roof of your mouth and push up. Next, sweep the tip of your tongue from the very front of your mouth to the back along the roof of your mouth. Lastly, lateralize your tongue from one corner of your mouth to the other. The number of repetitions is patient specific. Click here for Video.

11. Tongue Range of Motion: First, stick your tongue out as far as possible and hold as instructed. Then pull the tongue back into the mouth as far as you can. Then, lateralize the tongue tip to one corner of your mouth and hold. Then switch to the opposite side and hold.  Lastly, open your mouth put your tongue tip behind your top teeth and hold the stretch. The number of sets is patient specific. Click here for Video.

12. Tongue Retraction Exercise : Don’t use the tip of your tongue. Instead, pull the back of your tongue as far into the mouth as you can and hold. Click here for Video.

13. Effortful   Pitch Glide: Say “eee” in as low a pitch as possible and then gradually raise the pitch of your voice until the highest tone possible. Hold this tone for the length of time directed by your clinician. Click here for Video.

14. Lip Range of Motion : Pull your lips into a smile and hold the stretch. Next, open your jaw wide and then stretch your lips into a smile and hold. Click here for Video.

In addition to the swallowing exercises above, there are also devices on the market designed to help improve the swallow function.  The link below will direct you to information on devices that can be used in conjunction with the exercises above. We provide this information to empower the patient.   Please consult with your medical professional as this type of treatment may not be right for you:

6 Comments On “ Swallowing Exercises ”

• Trackback: What it’s like to wake up and find yourself unable to swallow - Quartz […] pathologists and other dysphagia experts have developed a repertoire of a dozen or so swallowing exe... qz.com/639247/what-its-like-to-wake-up-and-find-yourself-unable-to-swallow
• Trackback: What it’s like having dysphagia — the disease that makes it feel like you’re being ‘constantly waterboarded’ | Vus Times […] pathologists and other dysphagia experts have developed a repertoire of a dozen or so swallowin... vustimes.com/what-its-like-having-dysphagia-the-disease-that-makes-it-feel-like-youre-being-constantly-waterboarded
• Trackback: What it's like having dysphagia — the disease that makes it feel like you're being 'constantly waterboarded' | newusatoday […] pathologists and other dysphagia experts have developed a repertoire of a dozen or so swallowing ex... newusatoday.ga/?p=9718
• Trackback: What it’s like having dysphagia, the disease that makes it feel like you’re being ‘constantly waterboarded’ – Izon Inc […] pathologists and other dysphagia experts have developed a repertoire of a dozen or so swallowing ex... izoninc.com/blog/what-its-like-having-dysphagia-the-disease-that-makes-it-feel-like-youre-being-constantly-waterboarded
• Trackback: What it is like having dysphagia — the illness that makes it really feel such as you’re being ‘continually waterboarded’ – GloboTimes.com | Global Breaking News, Stories, Multimedia, Events, Trends, Launches, Researches, Reviews, […] pathologists and other dysphagia experts have developed a repertoire of a dozen or so swallowing ex... globotimes.com/news-story/what-it-is-like-having-dysphagia-the-illness-that-makes-it-really-feel-such-as-youre-being-continually-waterboarded
• Trackback: Problemet e gëlltitjes – Disfagia – OLT Retorika […] Të tjera ushtrime me video mund të gjeni edhe në https://ndso.website-development.info/oral-swall... retorika-ks.com/2017/09/problemet-e-gelltitjes-disfagia

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• Debbie's Blog

Tongue Pop Oral Motor Exercises

Posted by Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP on 10th Sep 2013

Tongue pops are my faaaavorite oral motor exercise.  They're a fun and easy way to work on tongue placement, oral tone,  tongue tip elevation and control, plus  tongue and jaw dissociation (skills that are necessary for proper speech, feeding, and oral motor development).

The ability to orally manage food requires a lot more skill than most people realize.  Try taking a bite out of something right now, paying attention to what your tongue is doing and how it manipulates the food.  Once the bite is fully chewed, your tongue will manipulate it into a ball (bolus).  It will then position the food bolus on top of the middle of the tongue, raise the tongue to the palate, and then squeeze it to the back of the tongue.  Once it hits the back of the tongue, it triggers a swallow.  There's a lot going on!  Doing tongue pops is a great way to exercise the tongue, build oral tone, and practice controlled, coordinated movement.

Tongue pops also work on the coordination required for proper speech and articulation.  For example, many speech sounds require tongue and jaw dissociation, or the ability of the tongue to work independently from the jaw. For example, try saying "la la la" right now, paying attention to what your tongue and jaw are doing.  The tongue tip should be elevating to the alveolar ridge (just behind the upper front teeth), and the jaw should be stable. Tongue pop exercises will work on both elevating the tongue tip, and teaching it to work separately from the jaw.  They also work the back margins of the tongue, forcing them to make contact with the upper back teeth.  This contact is how we produce R, SH, CH, DZ, S, Z, and other speech sounds.

To do a tongue pop, instruct the individual to put their tongue tip on the alveolar ridge (behind the upper front teeth).  Then suck the tongue up into the palate, holding it there for a split second before popping it down.  Demonstrate by doing it yourself and on a puppet.  Using a mirror always helps.  It may take a while before they can make a good popping sound, so be patient. 

If the jaw is opening too wide (like in the video above) or sliding from side to side, use an Oral Motor Probe to stabilize the jaw.  Place it between the pre-molars and instruct the individual to bite down and sustain the bite as they pop their tongue.  This decreases the jaw movement and also forces the tongue to do all of the work, moving independently without assistance from the jaw.  You'll notice in the video that his jaw is still moving a bit, but this is the first time we worked on this.  The jaw will get stronger and have more control with practice.

In the video above we're using a Y-Chew (you can also use a Grabber ) to stabilize her jaw.  She's been practicing, and you can see that her jaw has very little movement!

The last video above shows a variation of the tongue pop exercise.  Instruct the individual to place the tongue in the tongue pop position, but not to pop it.  Instruct him to hold it there as he lowers and raises his jaw.  Try this oral motor exercise yourself - it's a tough one!   This tongue-jaw dissociation exercise also builds jaw strength and control.

All my best,

Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP

• #feeding-therapy
• #jaw-stability
• #oral-motor
• #tongue-elevation
• #tongue-jaw-dissociation

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Speech therapy

Oral Motor Exercises: Tongue Exercises for Confident Speech

By Rajini D

Last Updated: November 21, 2023

Home   »

The journey of speech and language development of an individual involves various aspects such as articulation, pronunciation, and the production of various speech sounds. Along with all the other parts of the mouth and the control of airflow, the movement of the tongue and its involvement in producing certain speech sounds is of much importance. Our tongue is an essential and flexible muscle part that plays a vital role in speech production. As a part of speech and language development in individuals, tongue exercises are very crucial. Tongue exercises help strengthen the tongue muscles, improving articulation and overall oral motor skills.

Why are tongue exercises necessary?

Tongue exercises help in developing coordination and control, which is necessary for the production of a wide range of speech sounds and words.

Articulation:

The tongue has a major role to play in articulating speech sounds. There are certain speech sounds that require precise tongue moments, especially alveolar sounds such as /t/, /d/, /n/, and lingual sounds such as /l/, and/r/. Strengthening the tongue muscles can help in producing clearer and more accurate articulation.

Oral motor skills:

Strengthening the tongue muscles would help in the development of oral motor skills that are essential for various speech-related activities. The skills such as speaking, eating, swallowing, and chewing would come under oral motor skills.

Muscle coordination:

Practicing tongue exercises can bring good muscle control, which helps in better coordination during speech production. Such coordination can produce precise formation of speech sounds. Tongue exercises can help in a smooth transition between different speech sounds and words.

Swallowing and Feeding:

Swallowing and feeding abilities of an individual are closely related to speech and language development. Effective tongue exercises can promote these abilities. Strengthening tongue muscles can lead to better swallowing and feeding, which, in turn, can promote overall oral health and development.

Overall Communication Skills:

Practicing tongue exercises can enhance the flexibility and strength of your child’s tongue muscles. Making them do these exercises can help them improve their articulation and speech control and enhance oral motor skills. This boosts their self-confidence and provides effective interactions and better social engagement.

For individuals having speech and language difficulties, practicing such exercises under the guidance of a speech and language pathologist or a healthcare professional specializing in speech therapy can benefit well. They provide custom-tailored therapy plans and targeted exercises with scientifically proven techniques for individuals according to their needs.

Techniques for improved tongue movements:

Here are different techniques that help in the improvement of tongue movement for speech development.

Tongue lateralization exercises:

These exercises create awareness of the lateral movements of the tongue. They strengthen and tone the muscles for tongue lateralization.

Guidelines for these exercises

• While working with these tongue movements, the child’s head and jaw should remain stable.
• While the child’s tongue moves to the side, the head shouldn’t follow it. Your child’s head should not tilt back with rear tongue elevation.
• To reduce extraneous movements, place your hand on the back or side of the child’s head.
• Perform the following exercises at home with your child at least once a day for enhanced speech improvement.

Tongue exercises

You can model these exercises for your child to make him/her do so. Make the child do these exercises by following the instructions carefully.

Tongue side to side:

Make your child’s tongue tip move to the left side of the mouth and make him hold there for 3 to 5 seconds. Now make him move his tongue tip to the right side of the mouth and hold there for 3 to 5 seconds.

In case the child is unable to do so, hold the tongue with a gauge and move. Afterward, let him or her practice gradually. 

Later, ask the child to protrude the tongue and move it from side to side. Make sure that the tongue does not touch the lips.

Tongue brush:

Have your child stick out his or her tongue. Using a toothbrush, gently brush the left side of the tongue from front to back with three quick and firm strokes. Then, brush the right side of the tongue in the same way. Repeat each set three times. This stroking will draw the tongue to the side that you are stroking. An increased awareness of the sides of the tongue is possible with this exercise.

Side tongue push:

Ask your child to stick the tongue out. Hold the flat side of a tongue depressor or a craft stick or toothbrush against the left side of the tongue. Have your child push the tongue depressor or craft stick to the left side with the side of his tongue. Repeat the same steps for the right side of the tongue, too. Repeat this five times.

Liquorice Leap:

Take a half-inch liquorice or chocolate piece and place this in the right cheek cavity of your child’s mouth. Then have the child use his/her tongue to scope the liquorice or chocolate piece from one side to the other side of his/her mouth while keeping the mouth open. Have your child’s jaw and head movement to a minimum by stabilizing with your hand, if necessary. Repeat this twice, alternating sides while placing liquorice or Chocolate piece.

Squirrel cheeks:

Place your index fingers on your child’s cheeks. Have your child open his/her mouth and push the tongue into the cheek against your finger. In case your child’s jaw moves from side to side, stabilize it with your middle fingers and thumbs. You may start with one cheek and then do with the other. After doing this successfully, have the child repeat this exercise with the lips closed. Repeat this five times.

Exercises for the back of the tongue:

These exercises strengthen and tone the tongue muscles for rear tongue elevation and to elevate the back of the tongue to produce /k/ and /g/.

Tongue back:

To strengthen the back of the tongue, have your child move the tongue backward and downward in a circular motion, by lightly scratching the back of the throat with the tongue tip.

Toothette pump for Tongue retraction:

This is a resistance exercise. You may have your child open his or her mouth and anchor the tongue tip behind the bottom teeth. Using the flat end of a toothette, push against her tongue blade. Now, have the child say /k/ repeatedly. Stabilize the jaw of your child’s mouth with your hand, if necessary. Hold this for 1 to 3 seconds. Relax and repeat it three to five times.

Ask your child to tilt the head back and as if looking at the ceiling. Now, ask the child to make a gargling sound. Older children can do the same using a small sip of water. Repeat this five times.

You can ask the child to make a /k/ sound in this position as gravity pulls the tongue back. Please repeat the same five times.

Coughing and Yawning:

Along with gargling, coughing and yawning would also stimulate rear tongue elevation. 

Tongue Sucking:

Make your child suck his/her tongue to the palate and pull it back to release. This makes a popping sound, engaging the kid while it helps the tongue strengthen.

Tongue tip elevation exercises:

These exercises increase the tone and strength of the tongue tip. They would also associate the tongue tip elevation with tongue tip sounds like /t/, /d/, and /l/. Tongue tip exercises improve flexibility for rapid movement in words, phrases, and sentences.

Important note:

Your child should be able to lateralize the tongue before tongue tip elevation can be achieved. If the child cannot lateralize, go back to the tongue lateralization and backing. Repeat the tongue lateralization exercises.

Tongue Extension:

Ask your child to stick out the tongue and hold it steady for 1 to 2 seconds initially. Gradually increase this time duration to 4 to 5 seconds. Then, make the child relax and repeat this 3 to 5 times.

Later, you can practice by asking the child to touch any of his favorite foods with his tongue tip by sticking the tongue out. In case the child is unable to do this, use a gauge and gently pull the tongue out and move it from left to right slowly. Let the child feel the movements of the tongue. Hold the tongue on each side for 2 to 3 seconds. This tongue-holding will strengthen the tongue muscles.

Tongue up and down:

Make your child open his mouth and let his tongue tip touch the upper lip and the lower lip, respectively. Relax and repeat five times.

Tongue stroke:

Make a child stick out his or her tongue. Use a tongue depressor or a craft stick and stroke each side of the child’s tongue with three quick and firm strokes from back to front. Relax and repeat 5 times. 

Palate Lick:

Using the craft stick, put a dab of peanut butter on the child’s alveolar ridge and have the child lick it off with tongue. Let this movement occur in the front and back fashion. You can substitute cheese/honey/jam or any food with a similar texture.

Tongue-tip Hold:

Put a dab of peanut butter on the child’s alveolar ridge. Keeping the mouth open, make the child touch the peanut butter with the tip of his tongue and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds.

Tongue-tip Push:

Take a tongue depressor and hold it against the child’s closed lips. Make your child push the tongue through the lips and push this tongue depressor away. Make sure the child opens his/her mouth only wide enough for the tongue to push through. Apply gentle resistance against the tongue.

In case your child’s tongue collapses or folds, reduce the resistance. If your child’s tongue gains strength, apply greater resistance. Relax and repeat this five times. You may also use a toothbrush in place of tongue depressor. 

Dental floss Curl-ups:

Hold a dental floss holder before your child’s mouth. Have the child put the tip of his/her tongue through the dental floss holder and curl the tip up around the floss. You can now ask your child to open the mouth wide and pull the floss into the mouth while you apply gentle resistance. Be careful not to release your grip. Repeat this five times.

Tongue Bowl:

For this exercise, have your child open the mouth, relax his/her tongue, and rest on its bottom lip. Place the tip of a craft stick behind your child’s tongue tip and run it down the center line of his/her tongue about halfway back. You should be careful not to cause a gag reflex. Your child’s tongue will side and the tip will call up, creating a bowl effect. You may make your child look in the mirror and repeat this exercise three times.

Instead of a craft stick, you may use a toothbrush and place its bristles behind the tongue tip. Once your child gets used to it, you may ask the child to try making a tongue bowl on his own without the help of a craft stick.

To try this experiment, take a tongue depressor and place it between the child’s right molars so that the mouth is open until the width of the tongue depressor. Have a child bite down gently on the tongue depressor and repeat the syllables “lah, lah, lah” while not allowing the tongue depressor to move. If the child’s tongue protrudes, encourage to lift the tip of the tongue to the rest spot.

Make the child repeat three sets of three syllables “lah, lah, lah”. Then, have the child repeat the same without using a tongue depressor. You can try the same experiment using a toothbrush, too.

All these tongue exercises help in strengthening the tongue muscles, which foster the controlling the tongue movements during speech. Various speech sounds and words can be learned in a perfect way when the tongue muscles help that to happen. This way, the articulation errors of your child will be soon corrected and the pronunciation will improve.  Speaking confidently without errors can help your child express his/her opinions, ideas, and thoughts precisely. This boosts self-confidence while enhancing social interactions and communication skills. A speech and language pathologist helps in achieving all these benefits in scientifically proven methods through targeted exercises custom-tailored to the individual’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are tongue exercises important for speech development?

Tongue exercises play a crucial role in strengthening muscles, improving coordination, and enhancing oral motor skills, all of which contribute to clearer and more accurate articulation in speech.

2. How do tongue exercises benefit overall communication skills?

By promoting flexibility and strength in tongue muscles, these exercises help improve articulation, speech control, and oral motor skills. This, in turn, boosts self-confidence, leading to more effective interactions and better social engagement.

3. Can children practice tongue exercises at home, and if so, how?

Yes, children can practice these exercises at home. Parents can model the exercises and guide their children through activities such as tongue side-to-side movements, tongue brushing, and other techniques outlined in the content.

4. Are these exercises suitable for individuals with speech and language difficulties?

Yes, tongue exercises can be beneficial for individuals with speech and language difficulties. Working under the guidance of a speech and language pathologist or a healthcare professional specializing in speech therapy ensures custom-tailored plans for specific needs.

5. How do tongue exercises contribute to correcting articulation errors?

Tongue exercises target specific muscle groups responsible for articulation. By practicing these exercises, individuals can improve muscle control, leading to the precise formation of speech sounds and words. This gradual improvement helps in correcting articulation errors over time.

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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.

Facilitating Tongue-Tip Elevation

By Pam Marshalla

Q: How can I get my client to elevate the tongue-tip instead of the blade to produce lingua-alveolar phonemes?

Following my 22 Fundamental Methods of Facilitating Jaw, Lip, and Tongue Movements, I would do one or more of the following:

• Assist – Lift the tip with a tongue depressor.
• Associate – Find one phoneme in which the client elevates the tip, and use that phoneme movement to teach the others.
• Contrast – Contrast tongue-tip elevation with tongue-back elevation.
• Cue – Point your finger upward to cue the tip to lift.
• Describe – Use appropriate vocabulary to describe tongue-tip elevation.
• Develop sensory awareness and discrimination – Brush the tip with a toothbrush or toothette.
• Direct – Press above the upper lip with your finger and tell the client to push the tongue tip up in that direction against the alveolar ridge.
• Dissociate – Brush the tip and then the blade to help the client begin to dissociate the two.
• Exaggerate – Open your mouth very wide, and exaggerate your own tip elevation so the client can perceive the movement.
• Increase/decrease muscle tone – Put a tiny candy (like a cake decorator dot) on the tongue-tip and have the client press the candy up to the alveolus and hold it there for a count to ten.
• Increase range of motion – Have the client stretch his tongue up, down, left, right, in circular motions, and back from alveolar ridge to velum in order to develop gross tongue-tip movement before refined tongue-tip control.
• Inhibit – Stretch a long thin tool (swizzle stick, straw) across the mouth from the left side of the lips to the right side. Have the client use the tongue tip to reach out and under the stick and curl the tip up and back to hold the stick in place. This will force the blade down (or inhibit blade movement) and the tip up. (This is a technique from Van Riper.)
• Maintain positions – Once the client can lift the tip, have him lift it to the alveolus and hold it for a count to ten in order to build awareness, strength, and endurance for the position.
• Mark the target – Touch the alveolar ridge with a Toothette, toothbrush, or Nuk stimulator in order to give the client a tactile sense of his articulation target..
• Model – Demonstrate to the client what to do. Use your own mouth, your hands, a model, a puppet, drawings, and so forth to enhance this visual input.
• Normalize tactile sensitivity – Have the client suck on an ice cube for a few seconds between trials.
• Practice – Once he can lift the tip, have the client do it ten times in a row to build awareness, control, and habituation.
• Resist – Press down on the tip and have the client push the tip up against the downward pressure.
• Speed up / Slow down – Once the client can elevate the tip, have him practice the movement quickly in sequence.
• Stabilize – Have the client bite down with his molars on a stick (Infant tongue depressor, Toothette handle, swizzle stick, bite block) in order to stabilize the jaw while the tip activities take place.
• Stimulate reflexes – Brush down the midline of the tongue from tip to half-way back. The tip should be stimulated to elevate over time.
• Vivify – Have the client move the tongue in a wide variety of directions to break up old habits and introduce new movement.

For more about the 22 ways to facilitate jaw, lip, and tongue movement, please see  this article I wrote for the Oral Motor Institute .

2 thoughts on “Facilitating Tongue-Tip Elevation”

• Pingback: Frontal Lisp, Tongue Thrust, Ankyloglossia, Low Tone, and Tactile Defensive Behavior – Pam Marshalla's Therapy Answers

Hi! I just found your page by accident thru googling keywords This is not an area of relative expertise for me but much of what you wrote is in my clinical toolbox. I’m wondering if you have any suggestions for a specific client of mine. Peds, tween, severe flaccid-spastic dysarthria, significant oral/verbal apraxia that for some reason no one has ever diagnosed but me. We have been working on oromotor movements for quite some time and improvement is very slow. We work mainly to overcome the apraxia although her spontaneous movements are hard to measure because of the intermittent spasticity. Using a flavored stimulus on the alveolar ridge usually causes her to raise her tongue blade with the tip continuing to be depressed. attempting to lift the tip from underneath is a battle and require frequent breaks. Lateralization is improving with a lemon stimulus, although I don’t use those much because of the surface dehydration risks.

She eats everything – food is cut into pieces so she doesn’t have to bite/tear but she can, but mastication can be messy if her mouth spasms mid-chew. The tongue work is helping to improve her bolus mgmt bit by bit, though.

Of ocurse this isn’t her whole history but any thoughts you might have would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Addressing Tongue Thrust: Effective Exercises Explained

• August 22, 2023

Mastering tongue thrust exercises can seem like a daunting task.

The truth is, when it’s time to address orofacial dysfunction and improve oral health, their biggest challenge is…

Tongue thrust exercises.

Many people are clueless about how to do them correctly. This hurdle separates those who continue struggling with sleep issues, speech impediments and dental problems from those who take control of their oral health. But if you’re unsure about performing these exercises effectively, you’ll never experience the full benefits they offer.

Folks, getting tongue thrust under control isn’t easy.

Table of Contents:

Speech impediments linked to tongue thrust issues, the connection between tongue thrusting and sleep issues, a look into the role of experienced myofunctional therapists, beyond improving swallow dysfunction, treatment duration & expectations with omt, the journey from diagnosis to treatment plan, spearheading myofunctional therapy exercises, cultivating improved oral habits, detailed instructions for performing tongue thrust exercises, maintaining motivation throughout therapy sessions, transformative journeys: success stories in tongue thrust therapy, identifying the need for combined therapies, what exercises fix tongue thrust, how do you train yourself to stop tongue thrusting, can a tongue thrust be corrected, how can adults stop tongue thrusting, unraveling the concept of tongue thrusting.

Tongue thrusting, also known as orofacial muscular imbalance, is a habitual pattern where the tongue protrudes between or pushes against teeth during swallowing and speaking. This habit often begins in childhood due to prolonged thumb sucking, allergies causing nasal obstruction forcing mouth breathing , certain artificial feeding methods during infancy, and structural abnormalities.

The implications on oral health are significant. It can lead to dental malocclusion – misalignment between upper and lower teeth when biting down. The constant pressure from the tongue forces teeth outwards, creating gaps (open bite) or an overbite where upper front teeth overlap extensively with lower ones.

A consequence not commonly considered is bruxism, more familiarly referred to as teeth grinding . When your tongue constantly exerts force against your dentition, it may stimulate jaw muscles leading to involuntary clenching and grinding, especially while sleeping. Not only does this wear down tooth enamel, but it also leads to experiencing jaw pain too.

Beyond these physical manifestations, there’s another important aspect that needs addressing: speech impediment issues linked directly back to persistent infantile swallow patterns such as lisping difficulty articulating sounds clearly because their tongues do not maintain proper position for correct speech production. Studies show that early intervention prevents future orthodontic treatment needs related specifically to open bites caused by ongoing incorrect swallowing habits prevalent amongst school-aged children who continue practicing them into adolescence and adulthood stages without receiving necessary corrective measures taken timely enough to prevent further complications arising later in life. This makes it even more difficult to treat effectively, efficiently, and successfully in overall general terms, conditions, circumstances, situations, scenarios, contexts, etc.

The Impact of Orofacial Dysfunction on Daily Life

Orofacial dysfunction is a complex issue that often goes unnoticed, yet it significantly impacts everyday life. It’s crucial to understand its implications and how tongue thrusting contributes to this condition.

Imagine enduring constant jaw pain because your orofacial muscles are working overtime due to improper swallowing habits. Persistent discomfort in the jaw region can result from more serious conditions, like TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, which is caused by incorrect swallowing practices that make the orofacial muscles overwork.

Sleep issues might not be the first thing you associate with tongue thrusting, but there’s a significant connection between them. When your tongue doesn’t rest in the correct position during sleep, airways can become obstructed leading to snoring or even sleep apnea – a severe disorder characterized by interrupted breathing patterns throughout the night. This study from NCBI provides further insights into these connections.

If left untreated over time, such disruptions may result in chronic fatigue and poor concentration levels among other complications which impact daily functionality substantially. MyoHab offers specialized treatment plans for managing these symptoms effectively.

Beyond impacting quality of sleep through physical symptoms such as jaw pain, digestive problems also emerge as potential consequences. The incorrect swallow pattern characteristic of tongue-thrust behavior could hinder proper digestion starting right from inadequate chewing function up till esophageal stages. According to this PubMed article .

Demystifying Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) may sound complex, but its essence is straightforward. It’s a specialized treatment that concentrates on building up and re-instructing the muscles of your face and oral cavity.

The end goal? To address conditions like tongue thrusting, which can lead to dental malocclusion, teeth grinding, and speech impediment issues, among others. Here’s an insightful blog post for a more in-depth understanding of OMT.

An experienced myofunctional therapist plays a crucial role in diagnosing oropharyngeal disorders such as tongue thrusting. They assess each patient’s unique needs before prescribing suitable exercises aimed at improving their condition over time.

Your therapist will guide you through these exercises step by step, ensuring they are performed correctly while continuously monitoring progress to ensure optimal results are achieved over time.

The benefits derived from undergoing OMT extend beyond just improving swallow dysfunction. By focusing on correcting oral posture and breathing patterns, patients often report improved sleep quality due to reduced instances of snoring caused by obstructed airways, according to this research study .

In addition, correct positioning of the tongue during rest periods promotes facial symmetry, thus reducing the chances associated with developing Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD).

Different factors determine how long it takes for noticeable changes after starting treatment, including age and severity, among other things. However, most people start noticing improvements within 6 months if consistent practice is maintained throughout this period

The Role of Speech Therapists in Tongue Thrust Management

In addressing tongue thrust issues, speech therapists play a crucial role. They have expertise in understanding orofacial structures and their functions, which is key to diagnosing and managing conditions like tongue thrust.

Tongue thrust often manifests as difficulties with articulation, affecting certain sounds during speech. This is where the role of a speech therapist becomes invaluable.

A comprehensive evaluation serves as the first step in effectively addressing tongue thrust problems. During this process, an experienced myofunctional therapist observes how individuals swallow and speak.

If signs of improper swallowing patterns or inappropriate forward pushing against teeth while speaking are detected (indicative of a potential upward push issue), they proceed to develop tailored treatment plans for each individual case.

An integral part of any effective treatment plan involves exercises aimed at re-educating the muscles involved in proper swallowing patterns, collectively known as myofunctional therapy exercises . Our project, MyoHab , offers more insights into fostering good oral habits through these therapeutic practices under the expert supervision of certified professionals like speech pathologists. These specially trained experts guide patients through prescribed exercise regimes, ensuring that the targeted muscle groups responsible for correct swallow function are properly exercised over time.

In addition to prescribing corrective exercises, experienced speech therapists also provide education on better oral habits that support the long-term functioning of orofacial muscles. This could include guidance on optimal chewing techniques, advice on adopting beneficial postures while eating or sleeping, and other critical factors that contribute to reducing instances of inappropriate tongue movements commonly seen with dental malocclusion caused by persistent tongue thrusting behavior.

Speech therapists are vital in managing tongue thrust issues, thanks to their understanding of orofacial structures. They diagnose and create tailored treatment plans which include myofunctional therapy exercises under expert supervision. Additionally, they educate on improved oral habits for long-term muscle function.

Effective Exercises for Tongue Thrust Correction

Tongue thrust exercises , a fundamental aspect of orofacial myofunctional therapy, aim to rectify improper tongue positioning that may lead to complications such as dental malocclusion and speech impediments.

A seasoned myofunctional therapist typically prescribes these exercises tailored according to the specific needs of each individual. Some common examples include “push upwards,” “push tongue left,” and “spoon-push” against the hard palate.

The push upwards exercise involves placing your tongue flat on the roof of your mouth while exerting gentle pressure upward. This position should be maintained for approximately five seconds before relaxing.

In contrast, the push tongue left exercise requires pushing your tongue against one side of your teeth while resisting with cheek muscles simultaneously. Such an action helps strengthen both lingual (tongue) and buccinator (cheek) muscles effectively. This video tutorial demonstrates how these therapeutic techniques can be performed correctly at home under professional supervision from an experienced myofunctional therapist.

It is important to stay motivated during your therapy sessions to ensure the effectiveness of tongue thrust exercises. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated:

• Set realistic goals: Break down your therapy goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Celebrate each milestone to stay motivated.
• Track your progress: Keep a record of your exercises and track your progress over time. Seeing improvements can boost your motivation.
• Find a support system: Enlist the aid of your nearest and dearest, or join a support group to receive encouragement during therapy.
• Reward yourself: Treat yourself to small rewards after completing your therapy sessions or reaching significant milestones. This can help keep you motivated and make the process more enjoyable.
• Stay positive: Focus on the positive changes you are experiencing and remind yourself of the benefits of correcting tongue thrust. Positive thinking

Tongue thrust exercises, part of orofacial myofunctional therapy, correct improper tongue positioning to prevent dental and speech issues. Techniques like “push upwards” and “push tongue left” are tailored by therapists for individual needs. Maintaining motivation through goal-setting, progress tracking, support systems, rewards and positivity is key to successful treatment.

The transformative power of myofunctional therapy exercises is best illustrated through the success stories of those who have experienced it. Additional exercises and patient testimonials shed light on this life-changing journey.

Orthodontic Treatment and Myofunctional Therapy: A Complementary Approach

The integration of orthodontic treatment with myofunctional therapy offers a comprehensive solution to oral health issues such as dental malocclusion, often caused by tongue thrusting. While each approach has its unique benefits, their combination can lead to more effective results. MyoFunctional Therapy LA , for instance, provides specialized services that combine both therapies.

Determining when it’s necessary to integrate orthodontics with myofunctional therapy depends on several factors. The severity of dental misalignment due to prolonged tongue thrust is one primary indicator where an experienced therapist from MyoHab , alongside a certified American Association of Orthodontists member, would be beneficial.

• Persistent discomfort despite extensive prescribed exercises under supervision might also necessitate combining these treatments.
• If speech impediments continue even after consistent practice with speech-related exercises, additional intervention via orthodontistry may prove advantageous.

FAQs in Relation to Tongue Thrust Exercises

Tongue push-ups, spoon-push against the hard palate, and lateral tongue strengthening are effective exercises to correct tongue thrust. These should be done under professional guidance.

Orofacial myofunctional therapy can help retrain your muscles for proper swallowing. Regular practice of prescribed exercises is key in overcoming this habit.

Absolutely. With consistent orofacial myofunctional therapy and possibly orthodontic treatment, it’s possible to correct a tongue thrust over time.

Besides regular therapeutic exercises, adults may also benefit from speech therapy and orthodontic treatments as part of a comprehensive approach towards correcting their tonguing habits.

Understanding tongue thrusting is the first step to correcting it. It’s more than just a habit; it impacts your oral health and sleep quality.

Orofacial dysfunction can lead to several daily life issues like jaw pain, snoring, and digestive problems. But there’s hope in addressing these early on.

Enter orofacial myofunctional therapy – an effective approach to re-educate those muscles for improved function. A certified therapist guides you through this journey.

Tongue thrust exercises play a crucial role here. Tailored according to individual needs, they help correct the habits that led us down this path in the first place.

The road towards improvement isn’t always easy, but success stories from others who’ve been there remind us of its worthiness.

Orthodontic treatment often complements myofunctional therapy, providing comprehensive solutions for dental malocclusion caused by tongue thrusting.

If you’re ready to embark on this journey towards better oral health and improved sleep quality with our unique combination of therapies, including tongue thrust exercises, consider reaching out today at Myohab . We are committed to helping you achieve optimal health outcomes while enhancing your smile

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