Oral placement therapy is a specialized form of speech therapy that focuses on the physical placement of the articulators, which are the parts of the mouth and throat used to produce speech sounds. This therapy is particularly useful for individuals who have difficulty with speech sounds due to various reasons, such as developmental delays, speech disorders, or conditions like cleft palate.

In oral placement therapy, a speech therapist will work with the individual to improve their ability to produce specific speech sounds by teaching them the correct positioning of the lips, tongue, jaw, and other articulators. The therapist may use a variety of techniques, including tactile cues (touching the individual's face to guide them), visual cues (showing them in a mirror), and auditory feedback (listening to the sound they produce).

The process typically involves several steps:

1. Assessment: The therapist evaluates the individual's current speech patterns and identifies the specific sounds they struggle with.

2. Goal Setting: Together with the individual or their caregivers, the therapist sets achievable goals for improving speech.

3. Instruction: The therapist provides explicit instructions on how to position the articulators for the targeted sounds.

4. Practice: The individual practices the new speech sounds with guidance from the therapist.

5. Feedback: The therapist provides feedback to help the individual refine their speech production.

Oral placement therapy can be highly effective, but it requires consistent practice and the guidance of a skilled professional.

read more >>

Oral Placement Therapy is a speech therapy which utilizes a combination of: (1) auditory stimulation, (2) visual stimulation and (3) tactile stimulation to the mouth to improve speech clarity. OPT is an important addition to traditional speech treatment methods for clients with placement and movement deficits.read more >>