Oral Placement therapy (OPT)

Oral placement Therapy (OPT) - Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) for children is a specialized therapeutic approach that focuses on developing and improving oral motor skills, which are crucial for speech, feeding, and overall oral-motor coordination. This type of therapy is often employed when a child experiences difficulties with speech articulation, swallowing, or feeding.

It involves:

• Assessment- Before beginning therapy, a thorough assessment is typically conducted by a speech-language pathologist or another qualified professional. This assessment helps identify specific oral-motor challenges, strengths, and areas that require intervention

• Oral motor exercises- Therapy sessions often involve structured oral motor exercises designed to target specific muscles and movements involved in speech and feeding. These exercises aim to improve strength, coordination, and control
• Sensory input- OPT may incorporate sensory experiences to the mouth to enhance awareness and responsiveness. This could involve introducing different textures, temperatures, and tastes to stimulate the oral structures.
• Speech sound production- If the child is experiencing speech sound errors, OPT may include activities to address these specific articulation challenges. Exercises may focus on correct tongue placement, lip movement, and jaw control
• Feeding therapy- For children with feeding difficulties, OPT can include strategies to improve chewing, swallowing, and overall oral-motor coordination during meals.
• Consistency and reinforemnent