07/01/2026
Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) is a therapeutic approach used mainly by speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists to help individuals—especially children—improve speech clarity, feeding skills, and oral-motor control.
What OPT focuses on
OPT works by teaching the correct placement and movement of the lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks. The idea is that clear speech and efficient feeding require precise, coordinated oral movements.
Who benefits from OPT
It’s commonly used with:
• Children with speech sound disorders
• Individuals with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy
• Children with oral-motor weakness or poor coordination
• Kids with feeding and swallowing difficulties
• Individuals with apraxia of speech
How OPT is done
Therapy may include:
• Tactile cues (touching or guiding lips, tongue, jaw)
• Visual cues (mirrors, modeling mouth movements)
• Oral-motor exercises (jaw stability, lip closure, tongue elevation/lateralization)
• Tools such as straws, chewy tubes, bite blocks, or tongue depressors
• Gradual progression from sounds → syllables → words → functional speech
Goals of OPT
• Improve speech sound production
• Increase strength, coordination, and awareness of oral structures
• Support safe and efficient feeding
• Enhance overall communication and functional eating skills
Important note (best practice)
Modern OPT is most effective when:
• Integrated with speech and functional tasks, not done as isolated exercises only
• Matched to a specific speech or feeding goal, not generic oral exercises
This aligns well with evidence-based practice, especially when paired with approaches like motor-based speech therapy or sensory regulation strategies.
Book an OPT slot today in Quezon City and Cavite branch. Inquire now. :)
