Tongue+Thrust

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**__Swallow Test for Tongue Thrust __**

Have the child hold a sip of water in their mouth. They need to open their lips while keeping the teeth clenched. Have them try to swallow. Kids with a TT will have one or more of the following characteristics:

 1) The tongue will come forward and make contact with the front teeth.

 2) The water will spill out the front of the mouth.

 3) The child will throw their head back to initiate the swallow.

 4) The child will say they cannot do it.

 5) The child will not be able to swallow without closing their lips.

Children with TT have to close their lips to swallow to create the seal necessary to propel the bolus backward. Normal swallowing is completed by creating that closure with a spot behind the alveolar ridge.

Things to ask as the meeting:

1) Is your child a messy eater? 2) Does your child suck any fingers/pacifier? 3) Noisy drinker? 4) Snoring at night?—(consider referral to ENT for tonsil/adenoid check) 5) Difficulty swallowing pills if they take any?

[] tongue thrust exercises []