Clear and confident communication is vital for a child’s social and emotional development. However, some children face challenges in speech clarity due to difficulties with oral motor skills, the coordinated movements of the lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks. 

Understanding the role these skills play in speech can empower parents to seek timely support and interventions. In this guide, we’ll explain what these skills are, why they matter, and how speech therapy at LEAP Centre can help your child become a more confident communicator.

What Are Oral Motor Skills?

Oral motor skills involve the precise movements of the muscles in the mouth and face, essential for speaking, eating, and swallowing. These skills encompass the strength, coordination, and control of the lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks. When these muscles work harmoniously, children can articulate sounds clearly and efficiently. Conversely, weaknesses or coordination issues can lead to speech that is difficult to understand.

For a developmental overview of speech and oral skills, Healthdirect offers a clear summary of milestones parents can refer to as their child grows.

Why These Skills Matter for Speech Clarity

Effective speech production relies on the seamless coordination of oral motor movements. Each sound requires specific muscle actions; for instance, producing the “p” sound involves lip closure and a burst of air. If a child struggles with these movements, their speech may become slurred or unclear. When children have speech clarity difficulties related to oral motor coordination (such as in apraxia or dysarthria), strengthening and refining these movements through targeted therapy can improve communication.

The Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Language guidelines highlight how early muscle development is crucial to communication success. LEAP’s therapy plans are designed to align with these principles—making your child’s therapy both fun and highly effective.

How Do Oral Motor Challenges Affect Children’s Speech?

It’s important to note that not all speech difficulties are caused by oral motor issues. These challenges typically impact children with motor-based speech disorders such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech or dysarthria.

Oral motor challenges can manifest in various ways, impacting a child’s speech clarity:

  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): A motor planning disorder where the brain struggles to coordinate the muscle movements necessary for speech. Children with CAS may have inconsistent speech errors and difficulty imitating sounds. LEAP Centre offers PROMPT therapy, a tactile-kinesthetic approach beneficial for children with CAS.
  • Dysarthria: A condition resulting from weak or poorly controlled speech muscles, often due to neurological issues. It can lead to slow or slurred speech, requiring targeted therapy to improve muscle strength and coordination.
  • Low Muscle Tone (Hypotonia): Children with hypotonia may exhibit slow or effortful speech, particularly when fatigued. Strengthening exercises can aid in enhancing their speech clarity.

At LEAP Centre, we draw on research-based strategies, including those outlined by Charles Sturt University to match each child with therapies proven to target these speech issues effectively.

Signs Your Child May Need Support

Early identification of oral motor difficulties is crucial. Parents should watch for signs such as:

  • Mumbled or slurred speech
  • Difficulty articulating specific sounds
  • Visible effort or frustration when speaking
  • Fatigue during conversations
  • Avoidance of speaking in social settings

If these signs are present, consulting a speech-language pathologist is recommended. LEAP Centre provides comprehensive assessments to determine the underlying causes of speech clarity issues.

The Importance of Early Intervention

The earlier a child receives support, the better the outcomes. As highlighted by the NDIS guidelines on early communication development, early therapy can help children build strong communication foundations during their most critical learning periods.

At LEAP Centre, our assessments and interventions are designed to help you act early, with confidence.

How Speech Therapy Can Help

Speech therapy plays a vital role in helping children overcome challenges related to oral motor skills, speech clarity, and language development. At LEAP Therapies, the paediatric speech team takes a comprehensive, child-focused approach. Therapists begin with a thorough assessment to understand how muscle strength, coordination, speech planning, and language comprehension affect your child’s ability to communicate.

Whether your child is just starting to speak, struggling to form words, or has a diagnosed condition like Childhood Apraxia of Speech, LEAP Centre provides a clear and compassionate pathway forward.

What to Expect in Therapy

Therapy at LEAP is designed to be as enjoyable as it is effective. Sessions are interactive and adapted to suit each child’s age, personality, and specific communication needs. Some of the therapy methods include:

  • Exercises to strengthen and coordinate the lips, tongue, and jaw
  • Breathing and vocal exercises to improve voice control and projection
  • PROMPT therapy, which uses gentle tactile cues to guide accurate speech movements
  • Support for alternative or augmentative communication if verbal speech is not yet established

Children learn through play, repetition, and meaningful connection. Sessions are delivered in a way that builds confidence while encouraging steady progress in speech and language skills.

Personalised Therapy Plans

LEAP Centre’s therapists understand that no two children are alike. Treatment plans are tailored to reflect your child’s strengths, challenges, and communication goals. These plans are dynamic and change as your child grows and improves.

Family involvement is highly encouraged. Parents are provided with clear guidance on how to support communication development at home. Through this collaborative process, therapy becomes more than just a weekly session, it becomes part of your child’s everyday success.

How You Can Support Your Child at Home

Parental involvement is crucial in reinforcing therapy goals. Engaging in simple, daily activities can support your child’s progress.

With guidance from your child’s speech therapist, activities like blowing bubbles or using straws can support breath control and oral awareness. Mirror games can help with visual feedback for lip and tongue movements when practicing speech sounds.

Encouragement Makes a Big Difference

Praise every effort, no matter how small. Create a calm, pressure-free environment where your child feels safe to try, make mistakes, and improve. Children thrive when they feel supported and understood.

Book a Speech Therapy Assessment at LEAP Centre

If you’re concerned about your child’s speech clarity, LEAP Centre offers specialised speech therapy services. Their experienced therapists provide personalised care, focusing on enhancing oral motor skills and overall communication abilities. Services are available in-clinic and through mobile therapy sessions, ensuring flexibility to meet your family’s needs.

Contact LEAP Centre today to schedule an assessment and support your child’s journey toward clearer, more confident communication.