Oral-motor skills refer to the movements and coordination of the muscles of the face and mouth – including the lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw (and the hard and soft palate) – that enable functions such as speaking, eating, and facial expression. These skills encompass muscle tone, strength, range of motion, speed, and the ability to control movements in a refined way (for example, moving the tongue independently of the jaw). In infancy and early childhood, oral-motor development progresses from basic suckling and biting reflexes to more complex chewing patterns and speech movements.
SLPs evaluate oral-motor skills as part of both speech and feeding assessments – weaknesses or coordination problems in oral-motor function can contribute to articulation disorders (unclear speech) or feeding/swallowing difficulties, so therapy may include exercises or strategies to improve specific muscle movements.
Bean, Allison. “Oral-Motor Skills.” In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders, edited by Fred R. Volkmar, 2091–2092. New York: Springer, 2013.
Arvedson, Joan C., and Linda Brodsky. Pediatric Swallowing and Feeding: Assessment and Management. 2nd ed. Albany, NY: Singular/Thomson Learning, 2002.
