Jaw Grading Bite Blocks vs. Apraxia Speech Blocks… What’s the Difference?

Good morning! I am a little bit confused, could you please help me in something? I would like to buy the Bite Blocks from TalkTools. I just want you to tell me the difference between them and the Apraxia Speech Blocks. Is it the same if I buy the second (Apraxia Speech Blocks) and not the Red Bite Blocks? Are they doing the same job?

~Erika

Hi Erika,

The Apraxia Speech Blocks are one set that are used for jaw placement when practicing sounds. Although they are technically the same material and size, the Jaw Grading Bite Block Program requires 2 sets to complete. You could technically buy 2 sets of Apraxia Speech Blocks and do the program, but it won’t come with instructions, so you would need to have been trained on the program and not need them. I would caution using the Apraxia Speech Blocks for jaw work IF you are going to need them for a child with apraxia and significant motor planning deficits who may have difficulty shifting between the two activities.

Hope this helps!
Renee

This essential tool is used in the famous activity “Bite Block hierarchy.” Jaw Grading Bite Blocks promote symmetrical jaw strength, stability, and grading for clients with weak jaw musculature evidenced during speech sound production or feeding (i.e. reduced mobility, sliding, or jutting). As many OPT (Oral Placement Therapy) tools, it is used both to diagnose and treat. Excellent for use with Dysarthria, Apraxia and Dyspraxia.
This speech therapy program, by Renee Roy Hill, MS, CCC-SLP, is ideal for transitioning clients with motor-planning deficits from Oral Placement activities to speech production. The three sets of tools provide tactile cueing for specific sounds m, p, b, oo, oh, ee, ih, eh, uh and ah, so clients can feel where the articulators should be during speech production. When combined with verbal and visual cues, they provide a multisensory approach to facilitating speech.


Renee Roy Hill, MS, CCC-SLP has provided therapeutic assessments and program planning for adults and children with oral placement, feeding and motor speech deficits for over 17 years. She is the owner of Crossroads Therapy Clinic in New Braunfels, TX and a member of the TalkTools® speakers bureau. Renee has been an invited speaker for ASHA state conventions and has received specialized training in speech/oral-motor/feeding therapy, Apraxia, sensory processing disorders, Hanen Courses, NDT training, TAMO therapy and PROMPT. She is the creator of the TalkTools® Schedule Board Kit, co-author of Ice Sticks, and author of the TalkTools® Apraxia Program.

Talktool admin 14 Dec 18

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