Watch any of the nice baseball pitchers, and also you’ll usually see them chewing sunflower seeds or a wad of bubblegum of their mouth. Or how about soccer gamers that chew on their mouthguards between performs. These athletes are utilizing oral motor abilities as a part of their success repertoire. Analysis research have reported the constructive results of chewing gum on cognitive abilities, together with alertness, consideration, processing velocity, and reminiscence.1
Oral motor abilities seek advice from the use and performance of the muscle mass of the face, together with the tongue, lips, and jaw. Many youngsters with particular wants want extra apply and enter on this space. Oral motor remedy works on the abilities vital for correct speech and feeding growth. These abilities embody consciousness, energy, coordination, motion, and endurance of the lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw. As well as, as sports activities athletes know, oral motor instruments are used for self-regulation and a spotlight.
As gum chewing is prohibited on many campuses, addressing the oral motor wants of scholars through the college day might be difficult. Discovering protected, quiet, and acceptable sensory options is essential. Taking oral motor breaks, resembling blowing bubbles, utilizing cause-and-effect whistles, or utilizing a straw to blow a ping pong ball could also be useful.
Different Protected Chewing Choices
There are additionally protected options for chewing when gum or different meals usually are not an choice. You probably have a pupil that’s chewing their pencil high right down to a nub, or a toddler that’s chewing on their shirt collar, these are indicators that they could profit from oral motor instruments like Abilitations chewlery. These are fabricated from plastic that’s latex-free, phthalate-free, and BPA-free. They embody wearable choices like bracelets and necklaces, in addition to some that may clip onto a collar or slide on a pencil high.
Some college students could also be heavier chewers than others, so experiment with totally different thicknesses and sensory textures. An answer like Chewigems could aid you discover that good enter for every little one. Take a notice from the professional’s playbook and begin utilizing oral motor instruments as a part of your little one’s sport plan for fulfillment! Go to our web site for extra info and oral motor choices.
- Allen AP, Smith AP. Chewing gum: cognitive efficiency, temper, well-being, and related physiology. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:654806. doi: 10.1155/2015/654806. Epub 2015 Might 17. PMID: 26075253; PMCID: PMC4449949.
Cecilia Cruse
Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L has a BS diploma in Occupational Remedy from the College of Florida, and her Grasp’s diploma in Training from Georgia State College. She is SIPT licensed and has over 25 years’ expertise in pediatrics with school-based companies, acute care, and outpatient pediatric settings.
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