Pediatric Speech Therapy for Tongue Thrust
in Newport Beach & Torrance, CA
Does your child push their tongue against or between their teeth when speaking, swallowing, or at rest? This pattern, known as a tongue thrust, can impact speech clarity, dental development, swallowing patterns, and overall oral function.
At Stepping Stones Therapy Inc., our pediatric speech-language pathologists provide therapy to help children develop appropriate tongue placement, oral resting posture, and swallowing patterns. Through individualized treatment, we help children improve speech production, support healthy oral development, and communicate with greater confidence. Therapy incorporates both speech and swallowing activities to help children establish appropriate tongue function across speaking, swallowing, and resting patterns for lasting success.
What Is Tongue Thrust?
Tongue thrust, sometimes referred to as a reverse swallow, is an atypical swallowing pattern in which the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or while at rest. While this pattern is normal in infants and toddlers, most children naturally transition to a mature swallow as they grow and develop.
When tongue thrust persists beyond the preschool years, it typically does not resolve on its own and may affect speech production, swallowing patterns, oral resting posture, and dental development. Children with tongue thrust often have difficulty maintaining proper tongue placement, which can contribute to speech sound errors, such as lisps, and may impact orthodontic treatment outcomes.
Signs Your Child May Be Experiencing Tongue Thrust
Your child may be showing signs of tongue thrust if they:
- Have a lisp or difficulty producing sounds such as /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/, and /j/
- Thrust their tongue between their teeth when speaking
- Push their tongue against or between their teeth when swallowing
- Rest with their mouth open much of the time
- Frequently breathe through their mouth instead of their nose
- Have difficulty being understood by others due to speech sound errors
- Have an anterior open bite or notice that their front teeth do not touch when they bite down
- Have undergone or are currently receiving orthodontic treatment for concerns related to tongue posture or dental alignment
- Have been referred by a dentist, orthodontist, ENT, or other healthcare provider due to concerns about tongue placement, swallowing patterns, or oral resting posture
What Is the Difference Between a Lisp and a Tongue Thrust?
Although they are often related, a lisp and a tongue thrust are not the same thing.
A lisp is a speech sound disorder in which the tongue is positioned incorrectly when producing certain sounds, most commonly /s/ and /z/. This can cause speech to sound distorted or unclear.
A tongue thrust is an oral motor pattern in which the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, speaking, or while at rest. Tongue thrust affects how the tongue functions throughout the day and may influence dental development, oral resting posture, swallowing patterns, and speech production.
Many children with a tongue thrust also have a lisp because the tongue habitually moves forward during speech. However, not all children with a lisp have a tongue thrust, and not all children with a tongue thrust have a noticeable lisp.
At Stepping Stones Therapy Inc., our speech-language pathologists evaluate both speech production and oral function to determine whether your child is experiencing a speech-only difficulty, a tongue thrust pattern, or a combination of both. This ensures that treatment addresses the underlying cause of the problem rather than just the symptoms.
How Speech Therapy Helps with Tongue Thrust
At Stepping Stones Therapy Inc., we begin with a comprehensive evaluation to assess your child’s oral resting posture, tongue function, swallowing pattern, breathing habits, and speech production. This allows us to identify how tongue thrust may be impacting communication, oral development, and overall function.
From there, we create a treatment plan based on your child’s unique needs and goals. Therapy focuses on establishing appropriate tongue posture at rest, teaching a mature swallowing pattern, and developing proper tongue placement during speech. Through engaging, child-friendly activities, children learn to use their tongue correctly across all of its functions, including resting, swallowing, and speaking, to support lasting change.
Parents are provided with practical strategies and home exercises to reinforce new habits between sessions. As skills become more automatic, children can experience clearer speech, improved oral function, and greater confidence in their everyday interactions.
Why Choose Stepping Stones Therapy, Inc.
For nearly 20 years, the compassionate speech therapists at Stepping Stones Therapy Inc. have provided high-quality speech therapy to children in the Newport Beach and Torrance, CA, areas. Our family-centered approach ensures your child receives personalized care tailored to their developmental needs, with clear communication and collaboration every step of the way. Our goal is to help your child develop the speech skills and confidence they need to express themselves clearly and connect more comfortably with the people around them.
Reach Out Today to Get Started
If you are concerned that tongue thrust may be affecting your child’s speech, Stepping Stones Therapy Inc. is here to help. Call (949) 955-0010 (Newport Beach), (310) 921-8797 (Torrance), email admin@steppingstonestherapy.org, or fill out our online contact form to schedule an evaluation. We look forward to helping your child build clearer speech and greater confidence in every conversation.