Oral Placement Therapy

Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) is a specialized technique used by speech-language pathologists and therapists to address speech and feeding difficulties. It focuses on improving the movement and coordination of the oral structures, such as the lips, cheeks, tongue, jaw, and palate, to improve the skill of the underlying motor system as we work to teach speech production, eating, and overall oral motor skills for oral rest posture and nasal breathing.

In OPT, we use a variety of exercises, tools, and techniques to target specific oral movements and muscle strength needed for function. These exercises are individually chosen based on the child’s functional goals and a full evaluation of the motor system that includes a structural, oral motor, speech and feeding assessment. We use “tools” to help the client “feel” the placements and movements we want to teach in speech and feeding. The goal is to develop or improve the muscle control and coordination necessary for speech and feeding.

OPT can be particularly beneficial for individuals with speech disorders such as apraxia of speech who may need a tactile approach to learn sounds, dysarthria, and oral motor deficits when we see weakness in the underlying motor system or clients with CAS+ that have motor planning and muscle skill deficits. It can also be beneficial for those with feeding difficulties, such as poor oral muscle coordination or sensitivity to certain textures or tastes.

It is important to note that OPT should be tailored to each individual's specific needs and abilities, and it is typically integrated into a comprehensive speech therapy or feeding therapy program. The therapists at CRTC are trained to complete a full evaluation to identify or rule out these problems.