Heather Vukelich, MS, CCC-SLP, is a TalkTools Level 4 therapist and the owner of Happy Kids Therapy in Danville, California. In her practice, she specializes in speech and feeding treatment for individuals with Down syndrome. Three months ago, she began seeing Anna, and since then Anna has made meaningful progress. As a result, Heather now shares more about Anna's program and its early outcomes.
"What does an OPT program look like?"
Early Down Syndrome OPT Speech Progress
Anna began her OPT, or Oral Placement Therapy, program three months ago. Since that time, she has made impressive gains in speech. For example, she is now starting to pucker her lips for /oo/ and /oh/ sounds. In addition, she has increased the stability, strength, and activation of her oral muscles, which is visible in her improved oral movement during speech. At home, her mother practices the routine once per day consistently. Furthermore, the family has paired the program with the See and Learn app created by Down Syndrome Education Enterprises.
Building Jaw Stability and Oral Strength
Anna also uses the Bite Tube Set independently while maintaining jaw alignment. As a result, this part of the program supports oral strength and stability. According to Heather, it is important to note that TalkTools teaches adult-directed use of tools. However, in some situations, she allows a child to explore the tools if they are being used correctly and do not interfere with therapy goals.
At this stage of therapy, Heather uses the bite tube hierarchy with Anna. Because Anna is not yet able to maintain unilateral jaw alignment, they use bilateral tubes instead. Consequently, the task remains supportive while still targeting the needed motor skills.
Supporting Speech Endurance and Lip Rounding
Heather also incorporates Horn #3 to increase abdominal grading for loudness and to support endurance for longer utterances. Consequently, this activity helps strengthen the breath support needed for speech. In another task, Anna practices bubble blowing with jaw support so she can maintain proper jaw alignment while improving lip rounding and control. Meanwhile, as her coordination improves, these activities continue to reinforce stronger speech movements.
Encouraging Tongue Lateralization for Feeding Skills
In addition to speech work, Anna practices a tongue lateralization feeding task. During this activity, food is placed at the canine, which is currently as far as her tongue will lateralize. Meanwhile, her head is held steady to encourage better dissociation of the tongue and jaw. Therefore, this technique supports both feeding skill development and improved oral motor control.
A Promising Start for Anna
Overall, Anna's early progress is encouraging. More importantly, her program shows how structured practice, targeted support, and consistent carryover can strengthen Down syndrome OPT speech skills in a short period of time. Most importantly, her steady effort and family support have helped build a strong foundation for continued success. Congratulations on all of your progress, Anna!