Oro motor exercises are done in improving speech and musculature activities and focus on structures like jaw, cheeks, lips and tongue. At home, BLOWING candles, paper bits, and thermocol balls or LICKING honey, peanut butter and jams are a part of these exercises which strengthens and coordinate the movement of muscles.

JAW EXERCISES (3 times)

• Widely open the jaw without making sound and hold it initially for 1-2 seconds and thereby slowly increase to 5 seconds. Repeat the action thrice. Do the same while producing the sound /ah/.
• Do side to side movement of jaw by providing assistance initially.
• Softly massage to the jaw from upper lip, lower lip, center eye and cheeks.

CHEEKS AND GUMS EXERCISES (3 times)

• Massage the outside cheeks in clockwise and anticlockwise direction.
• Massage the inside cheeks from upward to downward.
• Massage the gums to midline from one side.
• Puffing the cheeks for 3-5 seconds.

LIP EXERCISES (3 times)

• Make the child to smile by producing the sound /e/ and hold it for 2-3 seconds and later to about 5 seconds.
• Pucker the lips as if giving a kiss and produce sound /u/.Hold it for 1-3 seconds. Relax and repeat the same.
• Retraction and protrusion of lip is done together by smiling and then puckering.
• Gently press the child’s lip tightly together for 3-5 seconds. Relax and repeat the action.
• Gently stroke the child’s lip horizontally.

TONGUE EXERCISES (3 times)

• Extend the tongue outside and hold it for 1-2 seconds and thereafter increase the time to 5 seconds.
• Retract the tongue touching the back of tongue as if producing the sound /k/.
• Move the tongue laterally from left to right.
• Push up the tongue by placing it on upper lip.
• Push down the tongue by placing it in lower lip.

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