Bite Blocks & Speech Sounds: Which Jaw Height Matches Each Sound?
A reader asks which speech sounds line up with each bite block's jaw height. TalkTools Instructor Monica Purdy, MA, CCC-SLP, COM® breaks down the full hierarchy: high, medium, and low jaw positions.
Bite Blocks 2 and 3 set a high jaw position, 4 and 5 a medium position, and 6 and 7 a low position. Matching the block to the jaw height a target sound requires builds the stability foundation for accurate articulation.
- Bite Blocks 2–3 set a high jaw position for bilabials, labiodentals, alveolar fricatives and affricates, /r/, and the high vowels /I/, /e/, and /u/.
- Blocks 4–5 hold a medium jaw height for interdentals, alveolar stops, /l/, and the mid vowels /ʌ/, /o/, /ɔ/, and /ɛ/.
- Blocks 6–7 drop the jaw to a low position for velars, /h/, and the low vowels /æ/ and /ɑ/.
- Matching the block to the jaw height a target sound requires builds the stability foundation for accurate articulation.
- The 3-Part Treatment Plan for OPT™ course covers the full Bite Block Hierarchy, including how to integrate jaw grading with speech sound targets.
Reader Question About Jaw Height
A reader who attended the 3-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy workshop wrote in asking which speech sounds line up with each block's jaw height. TalkTools Instructor Monica Purdy, MA, CCC-SLP, COM® answers below.
“As an SLP who attended the 3-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy workshop, I would like to find out if there is a set of speech sounds corresponding to the jaw height for bite blocks. For example, Bite Block #7 corresponds to the “ah” vowel.”
Therapist Answer: Bite Blocks by Jaw Height
Hi! My name is Monica Purdy and I am a TalkTools Instructor. I teach the mentioned course, and I’m happy to answer your questions regarding the sounds that go with the TalkTools Jaw Grading Bite Block set.
First, Bite Blocks 2 and 3 (high jaw position): m, b, p, f, v, n, s, z, sh, ch, and r. Correspondingly, the vowels at this high jaw position include /I/ (as in “big”), /e/ (as in “me”), and /u/ (as in “blue”).
Next, Bite Blocks 4 and 5 (medium jaw position): “th” (voiced and voiceless), l, t, and d. Similarly, the vowels for medium jaw height are /ʌ/ (as in “up”), /o/ (as in “go”), /ɔ/ (as in “ball”), and /ɛ/ (as in “bed”).
Finally, Bite Blocks 6 and 7 (low jaw position): g, k, and h. Likewise, the low jaw position pairs with /æ/ (as in “mad”) and /ɑ/ (as in “ahh”). I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions.
— Monica Purdy, MA, CCC-SLP, COM®, TalkTools InstructorBite Blocks Jaw Height Reference
Use this reference when selecting speech sound targets: match each sound to the block that positions the jaw at the height its articulatory requirements call for.
Vowels: /I/ (big), /e/ (me), /u/ (blue).
Vowels: /ʌ/ (up), /o/ (go), /ɔ/ (ball), /ɛ/ (bed).
Vowels: /æ/ (mad), /ɑ/ (ahh).
Why Bite Blocks Jaw Height Matters for Speech Sounds
Jaw stability underlies precise tongue and lip movement in Oral Placement Therapy. Each speech sound requires the jaw to be graded to a specific height, not simply held "open" or "closed." The jaw has to reach that precise position before the tongue and lips can hit their own target placements efficiently and consistently.
Bite blocks earn their clinical value here. Pairing one with a target speech sound during practice gives the client proprioceptive feedback that teaches the jaw exactly where it needs to be. That feedback stays consistent and repeatable from rep to rep, which is what accelerates motor learning and builds the jaw-grading skill needed for automatic, accurate articulation.
For a broader overview of how these tools and bite tubes work together for jaw stability, see the Bite Tubes 101 guide. For ASHA’s clinical framework on speech sound disorders, visit their Articulation & Phonology Practice Portal.