Pediatric Speech Therapy for Tongue Thrust
in Winder, GA
Does your child push their tongue against or between their teeth when speaking or swallowing? Or do they frequently breathe through their mouth or rest with their mouth open? These may be signs of tongue thrust, a pattern that can affect your child’s speech, swallowing, and dental development.
At Let’s Communicate Pediatric Therapy Services, our speech-language pathologists help children develop healthier ways of resting and moving their tongue so they can speak clearly and swallow more comfortably.
What Is Tongue Thrust?
Tongue thrust, sometimes referred to as reverse swallow, occurs when your child’s tongue pushes forward against or between their teeth while speaking or swallowing, or rests too far forward when they are not talking or eating.
Although this pattern is normal in babies, most children develop a more mature way of swallowing as they grow. When tongue thrust continues, it can affect how your child swallows, speaks, and holds their mouth at rest, while the ongoing pressure may also influence how their front teeth develop.
Children with tongue thrust often sound as though they have a lisp because their forward tongue position can distort speech sounds. However, not every lisp is caused by tongue thrust, and not every child with tongue thrust has a lisp. An evaluation can determine whether the lisp is related to tongue thrust, another speech difficulty, or both.
Signs Your Child May Have Tongue Thrust
Your child may benefit from an evaluation if they:
- Push their tongue between their teeth when speaking or swallowing
- Breathe through their mouth more often than their nose
- Rest with their mouth open
- Struggle to produce “ess,” “zee,” “sh,” “ch,” or “j” sounds
- Have front teeth that do not meet when they bite down
How Speech Therapy Helps With Tongue Thrust
At Let’s Communicate, we begin with a thorough evaluation of your child’s tongue position and movement while resting, speaking, and swallowing. From there, we create an individualized treatment plan based on your child’s needs and goals. Through play-based activities, your child learns healthier tongue placement at rest, while swallowing, and during speech. We also equip parents with strategies to practice these new skills at home between sessions.
Over time, your child can experience clearer speech, more comfortable swallowing, and greater confidence when communicating with others.
Why Choose Let’s Communicate?
Since 2004, Let’s Communicate has helped children from birth through age 21 in the Winder, GA, area build skills and confidence through compassionate, individualized care. We prioritize building a strong relationship with your child by pairing them with the same therapist whenever possible. This continuity of care helps your child feel comfortable and supported as they work with someone who understands their needs, recognizes their progress, and adjusts treatment as their skills develop.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
If you are concerned that tongue thrust may be affecting your child, call Let’s Communicate Pediatric Therapy Services at (678) 963-0694 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an evaluation.