Before children can speak clearly, they must first learn how to move their lips, tongue, and jaw with control and coordination. At OrbRom Center in Phnom Penh, occupational therapy plays a vital role in developing the oral-motor skills that support speech clarity, feeding, and communication.

The image above captures a powerful moment—an adult helping a child practice intentional mouth and hand movements. These types of exercises are part of targeted oral-motor therapy, a technique used to strengthen the muscles needed for clear, confident speech.

What Are Oral-Motor Skills?

Oral-motor skills involve the movement and coordination of:

  • Lips and cheeks (for making sounds, drinking, and eating)

  • Tongue control (for producing specific speech sounds and swallowing)

  • Jaw stability (for articulation and chewing)

  • Breath control (for longer speech phrases and volume control)

Children with speech delays, motor planning challenges, or sensory sensitivities may struggle with these movements.

How OrbRom Center Supports Oral-Motor Development

At OrbRom Center’s Occupational Therapy Program, we design sessions that combine speech support with fine motor and sensory integration strategies. For children with speech difficulties, we often collaborate with our Speech Therapy team to ensure a complete, multi-disciplinary approach.

Therapeutic activities may include:

  • Blowing exercises (blowing bubbles or cotton balls to develop breath control)

  • Facial imitation games (making silly faces to strengthen facial muscles)

  • Lip, tongue, and jaw movement drills

  • Mirror play for visual feedback

  • Oral sensory activities to reduce food or sound sensitivities

These activities help lay the physical foundation for speech production and clarity.

When Should You Be Concerned?

Consider oral-motor therapy if your child:

  • Has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds or syllables

  • Drools excessively beyond toddler years

  • Struggles with chewing or swallowing

  • Has weak lip closure or mouth breathing habits

  • Produces unclear or inconsistent speech

Early intervention can prevent long-term communication difficulties and build confidence.

Start with a full developmental or speech-language assessment to better understand your child’s strengths and needs.

Helping Children Find Their Voice

At OrbRom Center, we believe that every child deserves the chance to speak, eat, and express themselves with confidence. Whether your child is nonverbal, struggling with pronunciation, or needing support for muscle coordination, our compassionate therapists are here to guide the way.

📍 Based in Phnom Penh, our center offers integrated occupational and speech therapy programs that build strength from the inside out—one movement at a time.

🔗 Learn more about our Occupational Therapy Services or Speech Therapy Programs today.

We are the only Preschool specialized on children with special needs in PhnomPenh.

  • Internationally qualified teachers
  • Cambodia’s largest sensory room
  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Covered outdoor playground

 📞 Phone: 077.455.993
Telegram Link: https://t.me/OrbRom