Major focus area

Feeding Therapy -> Swallowing

Short description

Chewing hierarchy program is an intervention utilizing sequenced progression of treatment exercises to initiate and strengthen mandibular function needed for successful mastication skill (Rosenfeld-Johnson, 1999; Overland, 2004).

Long description

Chewing hierarchy program is an intervention utilizing sequenced progression of treatment exercises to initiate and strengthen mandibular function needed for successful mastication skill. There are different programs which use chewy tubes. The SLP increases chewing function through the use of chewy tubes and then moves into real foods. The goal is to teach a graded, lateral chew with tongue-tip dissociation and movement across midline. Use a thin bolus such as a “veggie stick”, thin pretzel or crunchy Cheetos. The following are a couple of chewing programs.

1. The Jaw Rehabilitation Program is a patented series of goals and objectives designed to develop biting and chewing skills for successful feeding. Key strategies to initiate the pattern of up/down jaw movement are presented in an easy to follow format. All exercises are conducted with Chewy Tubes, eliminating the need to use actual food in treatment.

2. TalkTools: Use "Bite Tubes" that comes with instructions to use them in a hierarchy of increasing difficulty for development of jaw stability.