Ark's Oral Motor Probe

Highlight

• A versatile go-to tool for oral motor treatment, feeding therapy, and sensory development
• Use it to stimulate the gums, palate, lips, cheek, and tongue by tapping, stroking, and applying gentle pressure
• The white handle is rigid for an easy grip
• Super lightweight, compact, and portable
• Textured surfaces provide tactile input, awareness, and sensation
• The Ark's probe does not vibrate
• Length: 12cm, Width/Diameter: 1.2cm

Descriptions:

Designed by speech-language pathologist Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP, ARK's Oral Motor Probe™ is an excellent tool for oral motor treatment and sensory development.

It has a rectangular tip that is bumpy on one side, striated on the other, and smooth along the edges. These textured surfaces provide tactile input, awareness, and sensation.

Use it to stimulate the gums, palate, lips, cheek, and tongue by tapping, stroking, and applying gentle pressure.

The white handle is rigid for an easy grip.  The blue tip is softer with more "give" to be gentle on the lips, tongue, cheeks, and tongue.  At less than 5 inches in length, they’re super lightweight, compact, and portable.

Ideal for oral motor exercises, gum massage, and sensory stimulation whether you’re at home, in therapy, or anywhere in between.  

• Made in the USA, medical grade, FDA compliant
• NO lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA, or latex
• Recommended for ages approximately 2.5 years and up (depending on the mouth size).  For children under 2.5 years, we recommend ARK's proMini which has a smaller tip.  That being said, babies younger than 2.5 still do use the Probe, too (as in the action shot above as a "dipper spoon").
• Dishwasher-safe
• The Probe does not vibrate

Useful Tips:

Dip the Probe in foods to use it as a "dipper spoon" in feeding therapy.  This is an excellent tactic for beginning spoon-users.  It also helps introduce texture to puréed foods and eases the transition from puréed to textured foods

Suggestions Uses:

• For individuals with oral sensitivities or aversions, start with the smooth sides, as they provide the least input.  Then progress to the striated side, and eventually the bumpy side.
• Dip the Probe in foods to use it as a "dipper spoon" in feeding therapy.  This is an excellent tactic for beginning spoon-users.  It also helps introduce texture to puréed foods and eases the transition from puréed to textured foods.
• Most of us are either visual or auditory learners. But when these two senses are not enough, you may need to physically direct the articulators for certain speech and feeding skills.  Use the Probe to provide targeted tactile cues within the oral cavity to teach tongue elevation, lip closure, rotary chewing, and much more.
• For example, use the Probe to apply gentle pressure to the alveolar ridge (just behind the upper front teeth). Then remove the Probe and instruct the individual to touch the same spot with his/her tongue tip. Follow up by prompting the individual to say the tongue tip sounds /t/d/n/l/. 
• Or use it to stroke the sides of the tongue to encourage lateralization (moving from side to side, a critical skill for manipulating food).  
• Or use it to provide incremental tactile cues around the lips to practice removing leftover food from the lips. 

Testimonies from customers (taken from Ark Therapeutic website):

Caution:

This therapeutic tool should be used under adult supervision at all times