Speech Exercises
By Rose Chable, Speech Language Therapist
Three things I'd want to keep in mind for oral exercises; strength,
flexibility, and coordination. Since I don't know what your problems
are, I'll just list some examples.
For STRENGTH,
Use a tongue depressor, popsicle stick or small spoon for resistance.
1.As you're trying to stick out your tongue, press against your tongue with
the depressor, etc.You can use this same idea in all positions for your tongue---
2. trying to stick your tongue out beyond the corners of the lips and pressing back
for resistance, etc. You can use this with the lips too.
3. Pucker hard and press back for resistance. Another for the lips,
4. blow lots of air into the cheeks; don't let air escape through the lips. If trouble loosing liquid from lips,
5. press lips together firmly (no red of the lips showing) and hold for one minute intervals. Try holding thin objects with lips only (no teeth) for longer periods of time (ie. use straw, tongue depressor, thermometer).
6. Make the loudest kissing sound you can (the louder, the stronger your lips are).
7. Say Coke, cake, cook.... each word with strong "c/k" sounds to get the tongue to go up in back (this is usually good for swallowing too).
For FLEXIBILITY
The goal here is to get your tongue and lips to move to the FULL extent
possible.
Examples;
1. Stick tongue straight out way beyond the lips; hold for 3-5 seconds.
If you have trouble doing this, wrap a piece of gauze or similar material
around your tongue and GENTLY pull out, stretching slightly and hold. Like
any muscle, don't stretch to a point of pain. (This one's usu. good for swallowing too).
2. Stick tongue tip into each corner of the mouth. If easy, stretch beyond the corners, as if getting peanut butter (or whatever) from the sides of your mouth.
3. Stick tongue up to top lip then down beyond bottom lip as far as
possible.
4. "count your teeth with your tongue"; try to reach every tooth in your
mouth with your teeth.
5. Stick tongue into each cheek and push the cheek out as far as
possible with the tongue. Try to go farther back in your mouth towards back
teeth.(Good for swallowing if the person has difficulty getting the food out
around the teeth)
6. Lick lips all the way around, not missing any part of the lips while
keeping your mouth open slightly. Try to get your tongue beyond the red
border of your lips.
7. For lips, Alternate hard pucker with WIDE smile.
8. Alternate Open mouth WIDE, press lips together firmly.
For COORDINATION
The goal here is keeping consistently strong movements while speeding up the
movement in a repetitive fashion.
1. Move tongue back and forth into each corner of the mouth (make sure
you touch each corner). Speed up as quickly as possible. Keep your tongue
moving consistently, like to the beat of drum that's getting faster.
2. Pretend to lick a popsicle; open mouth slightly and keep it open. Put
tongue down on chin then "lick" up to top lip. Do as quickly as possible
but make sure the movement is accurate.
3. Lick lips all the way around but speed up as quickly as possible with
mouth open slightly. Don't miss any part of the lips. Change
directions.
4. As some have mentioned, repeat sequences of syllables (mama or
Puhpuh=for lips, Lala or Tuhtuh= tongue tip up, Kaka or Kuhkuh=raising
back of tongue).
Do sets of sequences quickly but accurately; all sounds must be heard.
This is an example of one set to do;
"Puh Tuh Kuh, Puh Tuh Kuh, Puh Tuh Kuh"
To INCREASE SENSATION AND FLEXIBILITY if difficult to do above;
1. Use a toothbrush's flat side and press firmly down in the middle of
your tongue.then try the "c" words...cook, etc.
2. Run the toothbrush back to front on your tongue.....then stick out
your tongue as far as possible.
3. Run the toothbrush down the sides of your tongue diagonally. Do one
side then try to get your tongue to the corner of the lips in the
direction you were rubbing.
You can also use a "Nuk brush" or oral sponges sold in pharmacies. Any
of these things can be put in the freezer or add lemon to them to get even
more sensation.
Pick and choose based on what you have difficulty with, then do the
exercises that you've chosen ten times each, two times each day and see
where that leads.
Work on exercises that are somewhat challenging but not frustrating and
try to work up to the ones that are the most difficult if you can.
When talking, concentrate on the following:
1. Open your mouth wider
2. Separate your words and syllables (Examples: Mi-am-i Flor-i-da or I'll
see you to-mor-row).
3. Pronounce EVERY sound (over exaggerate)
4. Take a deep breath prior to speaking
5. Take a breath after every 4-5 words
6. Be LOUD
I've found most people who have weakness/decreased coordination of the
tongue, do best using #1 and 2
If it's mostly a voice problem (too soft), concentrate on #6 and 4.
You may need someone else to listen to you during a short conversation with
them and have them give you feedback on if you're really using the
strategies or need to do more of them.
Or, you could tape record yourself for your own feedback.
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