Horn Kit
The TalkTools® Horn Kit is a structured set of therapy horns used within TalkTools’ Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) approach to build the underlying motor skills for clearer speech and safer feeding.
The kit organizes horns into a Horn Hierarchy that gradually increases in difficulty, so therapists and families can systematically train breath support, lip closure, and controlled oral airflow. Each horn offers a slightly different airflow and resistance, helping clients progress from basic blowing to more refined oral-motor control, and is frequently paired with the Straw Hierarchy and other OPT tools to support abdominal grading, velopharyngeal function, tongue thrust reduction, and drooling management.
What is the TalkTools Horn Kit?
Within TalkTools’ product range, the TalkTools Horn Kit is a core speech tool and program. It is designed to complement traditional speech therapy by adding a tactile, auditory, and highly engaging blowing task to the treatment plan.
The TalkTools Horn Kit:
- Teaches lip closure, abdominal grading, controlled oral airflow, and speech clarity
- Supports normalization of oral musculature and correction of certain articulation errors
- Serves as a prerequisite for oral–nasal contrast work
- Can be used as part of a program to address tongue thrust and drooling
Product page: TalkTools® Horn Kit
What’s included in the Horn Kit?
The TalkTools Horn Kit is packaged as a ready-to-use clinical set. TalkTools lists the following core components:
- One of each horn in the TalkTools Horn Hierarchy (Horns #1–#12; colors may vary)
- One replacement Horn #12
- TalkTools’ original Horn Kit instruction booklet, outlining the Horn Program and progression criteria
The horns can also be purchased individually (Horn #1 through Horn #12) for replacement or for building multiple sets in clinics, schools, or home programs.
Care note: TalkTools specifies that the Horn Kit is not dishwasher safe and should be cleaned according to the instructions provided in the kit.
How does the Horn Hierarchy progress in difficulty?
The Horn Hierarchy is central to how the TalkTools Horn Kit works. It is a graded series of horns that increase in difficulty from Horn #1 (easiest) to Horn #12 (most difficult).
TalkTools describes the hierarchy as a way to:
- Train abdominal grading and more powerful, controlled exhalation
- Gradually increase demands on lip closure and oral musculature
- Prepare clients for improved velopharyngeal functioning and specific speech sound targets
- Provide a motivating sequence where each horn feels like a “new game” within a structured therapy plan
Each horn is used until the client consistently meets the criteria outlined in the Horn Kit instruction booklet (for example, consistent sound production with appropriate posture and lip seal) before progressing to the next horn.
Where does the Pre-Hierarchy Horn fit in?
For clients who are not yet ready for Horn #1, TalkTools offers the Pre-Hierarchy Horn. It is designed as a bridge into the main Horn Kit:
- The horn makes a sound on both inhalation and exhalation, increasing early success
- A wide mouth opening supports very young children or individuals with minimal airflow
- The included instructions focus on volitional control of oral airflow as part of phoneme imitation
- It is recommended for those who cannot yet blow Horn #1 or who need more help initiating blowing
Product page: Pre-Hierarchy Horn
What skills does the Horn Kit help develop?
TalkTools frames the Horn Kit as a way to build foundational motor skills that support speech and feeding outcomes. Key target areas include:
1. Breath support & abdominal grading
The Horn Kit encourages taking in air efficiently and releasing it in a controlled, purposeful way. It can support clients who speak in very short phrases, have a weak or breathy voice, or fatigue easily during speech.
2. Lip closure and oral musculature
Blowing the horns requires a firm lip seal around the mouthpiece, reinforcing lips-together postures and supporting production of bilabial sounds (/p, b, m/) and overall oral stability.
3. Controlled oral airflow & oral–nasal contrasts
The Horn Kit teaches clients to direct air through the mouth, reducing nasal air escape. TalkTools notes that the Horn Kit is a prerequisite for work on oral–nasal contrasts in their broader OPT framework.
4. Tongue thrust and drooling
Improved lip seal and airflow control can be incorporated into programs targeting tongue thrust. The Horn Hierarchy can be used as part of protocols designed to reduce or eliminate drooling.
5. Speech clarity
By stabilizing breath support and oral musculature, the Horn Kit underpins clearer, more consistent articulation when combined with direct speech work.
How to use the TalkTools Horn Kit (high-level guide)
Important: The Horn Kit is a therapy tool, not a toy. TalkTools recommends using it under the guidance of a speech-language pathologist or trained therapist, following the official Horn Kit instructions.
A typical use pattern—consistent with how TalkTools presents the kit—looks like this:
-
Assess starting point
The therapist evaluates breath support, oral tone, and safety. If the client cannot produce a basic blow, they may start with the Pre-Hierarchy Horn before moving into Horn #1. -
Begin with the easiest successful horn
Most clients start at Horn #1, the easiest horn in the hierarchy. The focus is on posture, nasal inhalation, lip closure, and a single, controlled exhalation to sound the horn. -
Use short, structured practice sets
Sessions typically involve brief sets of blows (e.g., a small number of successful attempts), interspersed with rest and play. The goal is quality over quantity—consistent sound, stable lips, and minimal compensations like cheek puffing or head thrust. -
Progress gradually through the Horn Hierarchy
When the client consistently meets the criteria for one horn (as defined in the TalkTools instruction booklet), the therapist introduces the next horn. Each new horn adds a challenge by changing the resistance, airflow pattern, or coordination demands. -
Pair horn work with speech goals
As underlying motor skills improve, therapists integrate horn blowing with phoneme practice, oral–nasal contrasts, and other OPT tasks, so gains carry over into functional speech. -
Fade the tool as skills generalize
Over time, the Horn Kit is used less frequently, and the client relies more on their improved breath support and oral control in everyday talking and eating.
Tips for using the Horn Kit to build breath support and lip closure
From a TalkTools perspective, a few consistent principles apply when using horn blowing for breath and lip goals:
- Prioritize nasal inhalation: Encourage clients to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth into the horn.
- Shape the lip seal: Help the client achieve a snug seal around the mouthpiece—no air leaking from the sides, and minimal jaw protrusion.
- Watch for compensations: Redirect if you see shoulder lifting, excessive cheek puffing, or head/torso leaning as they blow.
- Keep it playful: Use the different sounds, colors, and shapes to keep clients motivated and engaged.
- Use clear, simple cues: Short verbal or visual cues (for example, “smell the flower, blow the horn”) support consistent breath patterns.
Safety and care
TalkTools and its distributors highlight several safety and care points for the Horn Kit and individual horns:
- Adult supervision required: The Horn Kit should always be used with adult supervision.
- Not a toy: Although fun and colorful, the Horn Kit is intended as a therapy tool within a structured program.
- Choking hazard: Small parts make it unsuitable for unsupervised use with young children or individuals who mouth objects.
- Not dishwasher safe: Clean according to the instructions in the Horn Kit booklet; do not place horns in the dishwasher.
Key takeaways: Horn Kit
- The TalkTools Horn Kit is a structured set of 12 horns (plus a spare Horn #12 and instruction booklet) used within Oral Placement Therapy to build breath support, lip closure, and controlled oral airflow.
- Its Horn Hierarchy progresses from Horn #1 (easiest) to Horn #12 (most difficult), giving therapists a clear roadmap for gradually increasing motor demands.
- TalkTools highlights the Horn Kit as a way to normalize oral musculature, support abdominal grading, improve speech clarity, and prepare for oral–nasal contrast work, while also helping address tongue thrust and drooling in appropriate therapy plans.
- For clients who are not yet ready for Horn #1, the Pre-Hierarchy Horn offers an earlier entry point with sound on both inhalation and exhalation.
Frequently asked questions about the Horn Kit
Is the Horn Kit the same as party horns?
No. While the horns may look similar to novelty horns, the TalkTools Horn Kit is a structured clinical program, not a random collection of noisemakers. The specific horns, their order, and the way they’re used are what create therapeutic value.
Who typically uses the TalkTools Horn Kit?
The Horn Kit is typically used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs) and other clinicians trained in OPT, as well as parents and caregivers following a program laid out by a clinician. It’s frequently used with children who have motor-based speech disorders, low tone, breathy or short-phrase speech, or oral-motor challenges that affect clarity and saliva control.
How is the Horn Kit different from the Straw Kit?
Both kits are pillars of Oral Placement Therapy, but they focus on slightly different skills:
- Horn Kit: Emphasizes breath support, lip closure, and controlled exhalation through blowing tasks.
- Straw Kit: Emphasizes jaw–lip–tongue dissociation, tongue retraction, graded tongue movements, and lip rounding across 12 straw stages.
Therapists often use both programs together for a more complete oral-motor foundation.
Related product:
TalkTools® Straw Kit
How long does it take to move through the Horn Hierarchy?
There’s no standard timeline. Progress depends on the client’s baseline strength, tone, and coordination, the consistency of practice, and any co-occurring medical, motor, or sensory needs. Therapists typically focus on quality and consistency at each horn level rather than speed.