Signs & Symptoms To Screen for Tongue Thrust
e.g. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder
Presence of one or more of the following:
□Speech difficulties
Informal Speech Screen Suggestions:
Ask patient to count from 1 to 20. Listen to speech sounds.
Then engage them in a brief conversation.
Developmental Sequence of Sounds (75% of Children Typically master by Age Shown)
By Age 4: p, b, m, h, w, n, f, k, g
By Age 5: t, d, ng, y
By Age 6: sh, ch, l, th (voiced as in “this”)
By Age 7: j, v, wh, zh (“garage”), th (unvoiced “thumb”), r
By Age 8: s, z
If you suspect a speech delay, please refer on to a speech-language pathologist, who may also be an orofacial myologist.
□Habitual open mouth posture, perhaps with snoring at night.
□Lips apart at rest or during swallows
□Tongue visibly forward during eating or at rest
□Facial smirk or grimace during swallow, or using a tightened lower lip
to seal the mouth closed.
□Open spaces (where teeth should be), through which a tongue comes during
swallows or at rest
□A tongue that comes forward into a cup when taking a drink or meets a spoon
□Dimpling appearance to chin when swallowing
□Washing food down with excessive amounts of liquid
□Messy eating, excessive drooling, and/or crumbs that lodge in corners of
the mouth. Food is not entirely swallowed or pocketing in cheeks.
□Loose, flaccid lip tone, or teeth that are visible in the presence of an arched
upper lip
□Improperly chewed food resulting in frequent stomach pains and gas
□Excessive elongated facial growth
□Head seems to bob forward when a swallow is completed.
Rule of Thumb
All sounds should be mastered by age 8 years old. If you suspect a speech delay, please refer to a speech-language pathologist, who may also be an orofacial myologist.
CHRISTINE LIVINGSTON, MA, CCC-SLP
Certified Speech-Language Pathologist & Orofacial Myologist
4465 Northpark Drive, Colorado Springs 80907
719-434-0888 (By Appointment Only)
Christine@LivingstonSLP.com