Stick out your tongue.  Move it from side-to-side.  Can you touch your nose with your tongue?  Congratulations!

Mouth aerobics as part of a speech therapy plan was very popular for a very long time.  I sometimes still meet children who were given mouth exercises to do as part of a therapy treatment plan.  It seems like a good idea on the face of it.  However, research shows that oral motor exercises do not translate to improved speech clarity.

Why not?

The muscles of the mouth and face are small and many are intrinsic to, or inside of, the surface of the mouth, cheeks and tongue.  The precise, quick and sequenced movements of your muscles when you speak are not at all similar to muscle movement employed for "mouth aerobics".

The best practice for speaking is speaking.  The best support for speaking muscles is specific, individualized touch and visual cues for specific speech sound errors.  Find someone who can teach you, and your child, what you need to know.

Visit Circle Speech Services to find out more about PROMPT therapy.  It's one option for improved speech clarity.