Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support
Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support 

Sensory Processing Disorder Oral Motor 

Children with sensory differences ... painting the world beautiful.  

Sensory Processing Disorder Oral Motor 

Jeanette Loftus 

child with sensory processing disorder doing oral motor activity blowing up a balloon  Sensory Processing Disorder Oral Motor
Oral motor skills are a significant part of a child's development. These skills involve the movement of the muscles in the mouth, face, and their throat, These are necessary for chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

Oral motor development is the use and function of the lips, tongue, jaw, teeth, and the hard and soft palates.
Symptoms that your child is hyper-sensitive (oral sensory avoiding) would include dislike brushing their teeth, having their face washed or they are usually very picky eaters especially with different food textures.

These children may prefer a very a type of sip cup or nipple for their bottle. They may also not be willing to use utensils. You can have either hypo-sensitive or hyper-sensitive oral motor. Children who struggle with OSPD may have difficulty with things like chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

Symptoms that a child may be hypo-sensitive (oral sensory seeking) may include eating/licking everything. These children may always have something in their mouths. They overstuff their mouths with food while eating and are very messy eaters.

They may like very crunchy foods and foods with a strong flavor such as spicy foods, very sweet/sour foods such as lemons, and very salty foods. They may bite their nails or chew on their clothing, pens, pencils, hair and their fingers.

Oral sensory processing disorder symptoms may also include difficulty with chewing and swallowing, drooling, sensitivity to different food textures and food temperatures and difficulty producing certain sounds or words. These challenges can range from mild to more severe.

There are many different ways to help children who are struggling with oral sensory processing disorder to improve their oral motor skills and overcome these sensory challenges. One of the most effective ways is through oral sensory motor activities.

Some oral motor activities for children are blowing bubbles, chewing foods with different textures or using a straw. These sensory activities can help children.

There are other ways to support children who are struggling with OSPD. Occupational therapy, speech therapy, and sensory integration therapy are some of the most common therapies that are used to help children improve their oral sensory motor skills.


20 Oral Motor Activities

1. Try using a vibrating toothbrush to stimulate tongue.

2. Blowing bubbles and blowing up balloons.

3. Try using a sensory oral chew toy for your child.

4. Chewing bubble gum and blowing bubbles with gum.

5. Encourage your child to blow into music instruments such as horns and harmonicas.

6. Have your child drink different consistencies of liquids and food through a straw such as water, smoothies, apple sauce, pudding and milk shakes.

7. Play a funny face making game with a mirror with your child. Make silly faces in the mirror while you are brushing your child’s teeth and try to get your child to imitate.

8. Have your child smile, don't smile, then a frown and repeat.

9. Practice eating different textures of foods such as crunchy, soft and chewy.

10. Get your child to click their tongue. Make clucking noises.

11. Put yogurt or pudding in the corner of your child's mouth and have them lick it off.

12. Have your child practice saying "oooo" and then "eeeee" then combine the two movements.

13. Oral motor cards and games. This helps children master lip, tongue and jaw exercises at home or school.

14. Get your child to lick their teeth while counting them.

15. Blow bubbles with a straw in a glass of milk or water.

16. Get your child to hold a carrot stick or another small piece of food in their teeth.

17. Read a book about Sensory Oral Motor for more ideas and exercises to try with your child.

18. Encourage your child to try licking lollipops and popsicles.

19. Try using some Oral Motor Tools For Sensory Processing Disorder. Always consult with your Occupational Therapist which ones would be best for your child's sensory diet and age.

20. Encourage your child to blow kisses or put feathers in their hands for them to blow on them.

Use vibrating therapy toys around the face and mouth. Use a vibrating toothbrush or vibrating therapy toys for their mouths and move it around their entire mouth. These stimulate the muscles, and promote more musculature awareness.

Oral motor therapy works on the oral skills necessary for proper speech and feeding development. Z-Vibes, straws and chew tools are excellent ways to exercise the mouth muscles. Use them to develop strength, coordination, movement, and endurance in the lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw.
TalkTools Horn Kit Oral Motor Therapy Kit
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TalkTools Horn Kit Oral Motor Therapy Kit 

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Super Duper Publications Webber Oral-Motor Photo Exercises and Activities Flash Cards
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Webber Oral-Motor Activities Flash Cards

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ARK's Oral Motor Starter Kit with Z-Vibe's smooth, gentle vibration helps
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ARK's Oral Motor Starter Kit with Z-Vibe

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Gummy Chic

Rainbow Ring Sensory Chew Necklace 

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Gummy Chic 

Multicolor Sensory Chew Bead Bracelet

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gummy Chic Milkshake Sensory Pendant Chew Necklace Pendant
Gummy Chic

Milkshake Sensory Pendant Chew Necklace

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ARK's Z-Vibe Sensory Oral Motor Kit - Ultimate kit with Most Popular Tips, Exercise Book, and Storage case
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ARK's Z-Vibe Sensory Ultimate Oral Motor Kit 

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Munchables Chewelry Oral Motor Dog Tags Chew Pendant Sensory Necklace
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Dog Tags Chew Pendant Sensory Necklace 

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Nuk Brush Oral Motor Wonderful tools for oral motor stimulation and desensitization
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Nuk Brush Oral Stimulation & Desensitization 

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ARK's Z-Vibe Oral Stimulator for Speech & Feeding.
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Z-Vibe Oral Stimulator Speech & Feeding.

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ArtCreativity 6-Piece Bubble Toys Set for Kids, Bubble Blowing Play Set with 5 Assorted Wands and Bubble Solution
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Bubble Blowing Play Set for Kids w/ Wands 

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TalkTools Jiggler® | Unicorn & Sloth | Chewable Oral Facial Massager, Set of 2 Oral Sensory Massager | Calming Motor Therapy for Kids
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TalkTools Sensory Oral Motor Facial Massagers

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TalkTools Sensory Oral Motor Straw Therapy Kit
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TalkTools Oral Motor Straw Therapy Kit

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TalkTools Sensi Sensory Oral Motor Therapist Therapy Kit
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Sensory Oral Motor Therapist Therapy Kit 

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Special Supplies Buzz Buddy Oral Stimulation kit with 6 Soft Textured Interchangeable Heads, Calm Sensory Needs, Support Speech, and Stimulate Self Feeding, Gentle Vibrations
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Special Supplies Buzz Buddy Stimulation kit 

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Therapy Shoppe Mini Squeezy Bubs
Therapy Shoppe 

Fine Motor & Oral Motor Mini Squeezy Bubs

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Oral Motor Honey Bear Straw Cups with 4 Flexible Straws
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Oral Motor Honey Bear Cups & Flexible Straws 

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Munchables Chewelry Unicorn Pendant Chew Necklace Oral Motor
Munchables Chewelry 

Unicorn Pendant Chew Necklace (Oral Motor) 

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TalkTools Textured Chewy Combo Pack alkTools Groovy Chewy
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TalkTools Textured Chewy Combo Pack 

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Triple Bristle Rechargeable  Best Kids Sonic Toothbrush
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Triple Bristle Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush 

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PUSTEFIX Multi Bubble Trumpet Blowing Toy for Oral Motor Kids Set
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PUSTEFIX Bubble Oral Motor Trumpet Toy Set

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Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support 

Sensory Processing Disorder Resources  

Supporting, learning, sharing and growing together.
School and Classroom Accommodations for Sensory Differences
Children's Books For Picky Eaters & Problems Feeders
Sensory Processing Disorder Classroom Self-Regulation
What Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Parents Want You To Know ...
DISCLAIMER: I have learned a lot over the years but I am still learning. Always do your own research and exercise sound judgment. I am not an occupational therapist or a physician. I am an adult who has sensory processing disorder, a sensory parent and a Grandma. The information on this website is not medical advice and does not replace the information that your child's therapists or medical professionals give you. These are just ideas that I have learned myself over the years of being a parent and an adult living with SPD. If you are concerned for your child, please always seek medical attention through a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist. This website is for awareness and support purposes only. Each child is different and what works for one child may not for another because all children have different sensory needs. Please always consult with a professional. 
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