Oral Motor Skills

What are oral motor skills?

Oral motor skills are the movements and strength of the lips, tongue, jaw, cheeks, and face. These skills help a child latch, chew, drink from a cup, manage saliva, move food around the mouth, and make clear speech sounds. They also support safe and comfortable eating and daily oral care like brushing teeth.

Why this matters

When oral motor skills are developing well, mealtimes can be calmer and speech can be easier to understand. Weakness, poor coordination, or differences in how a child senses things in their mouth can make eating frustrating, cause sensitive reactions to textures, or make some sounds hard to say. Working on these skills can improve a child’s confidence at the table, help them participate in daily routines, and make communication smoother.

What to expect in therapy or coaching

Evaluation: A therapist will start by talking with you and watching your child during meals, play, and communication. This helps us understand how your child moves their mouth, manages foods and drinks, and responds to touch and textures.

Play-based sessions: Therapy is built around fun, age-appropriate activities. For infants this might be gentle touch and positioning support; for toddlers, games that encourage blowing, biting, and tongue movement; for older children and teens, targeted exercises and practice integrated into daily routines.

Family-centered coaching: Caregivers get hands-on coaching to learn techniques you can use at home. Sessions focus on simple, practical strategies you can use during feeding, brushing teeth, or when practicing speech sounds.

Plans, not promises: We create personalized plans with clear, measurable goals and suggest steps you can try at home. Progress varies by child and depends on many things, so your therapist will update strategies as your child grows and changes.

When to consider support

  • Mealtimes are long, stressful, or cause choking fears.
  • Your child gags, refuses many textures, or only eats a very small set of foods.
  • Drinking from a cup, using a straw, or chewing feels delayed or awkward.
  • You notice persistent drooling or difficulty keeping food in the mouth.
  • Some speech sounds are hard to produce even after age-appropriate milestones.

How we help

  • Observe and gently assess oral strength, coordination, and sensory responses.
  • Use play-based exercises to build lip, tongue, jaw, and cheek control.
  • Teach families simple techniques for mealtimes, toothbrushing, and practice at home.
  • Offer pacing and positioning strategies to make feeding safer and more comfortable.
  • Coordinate with other providers (teachers, pediatricians) when helpful for consistent care.

What good sessions feel like

Sessions should feel practical and rooted in everyday life. You’ll see clear suggestions you can try right away, and activities will be fun and doable for your child’s age. Caregivers are part of the plan — we teach the skills and the ways to support them day to day.

Next steps

If you have questions about your child’s eating, drooling, chewing, or speech clarity, reach out to schedule a conversation. We’ll listen to your concerns, share observations, and discuss whether ongoing coaching or targeted therapy could help your family feel more confident at mealtimes and in daily routines.