Beckman Oral Motor Program

Major focus area

Feeding Therapy -> Swallowing

Short description

The Beckman Oral Motor Program is a group of strategies that provide assisted movement to activate muscle contraction and to provide movement against resistance to build strength. The focus of these interventions is to increase functional response to pressure and movement, range, strength, variety and control of movement for the lips, cheeks, jaw and tongue (Beckman, et al., 2004).

Long description

The Beckman Oral Motor Program is a group of strategies that provide assisted movement to activate muscle contraction and to provide movement against resistance to build strength. The focus of these interventions is to increase functional response to pressure and movement, range, strength, variety and control of movement for the lips, cheeks, jaw and tongue.

Interventions are determined by an assessment, the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, which uses assisted movement and stretch reflexes to quantify response to pressure and movement, range, strength, variety and control of movement for the lips, cheeks, jaw, tongue and soft palate. There is a specific training course for this method (Beckman, et al., 2004).

Reference links