To

correct tongue thrust, speech pathologists prescribe exercises designed to promote

a normal swallowing pattern, as well as correct speech production. In the

evaluation session the patient will be given swallowing and articulation

inventory tests. If only “pure” tongue thrust is found without any articulation

errors then usually three sessions are enough.

  At this evaluation session the patient will

be given the main set of drills against tongue thrust that he has to do on a

daily basis for 60 days following this session. A second session will be

scheduled 4 weeks later to follow up on the results of this oral physiotherapy

and consider adding another set of drills for the next 4 weeks after which the

third session is scheduled with follow up on the results.

If

the patient has misarticulated consonants (usually the high pitched ones: /s/ ,

/z/ , /sh/ , /ch/ , /ts/) - then each sound will have to be corrected in a

8-session weekly speech therapy while doing the same oral physiotherapy for 60

days - as well as specially designated speech drills to correct each sound…The

good news are that by successful correction of one sound we may correct another

(for example: correcting the /s/ may solve the problem with the /ts/ sound).