Pushing

• Push on something that is hard to move

• Can push against person's hands, wall, or other object as you are able

Pulling

• Pull on something that is hard to move

• Pull up on the seat of the chair you are sitting in

Take a breath.

Hold it tightly for several seconds.

Benefits

• Improves rise of voice box during swallowing

• Better protection of airway

• Less residue or pooling of food and liquid

Instructions

• Produce the sound "eeeee."

• Raise your pitch until your leave your range (falsetto)

• Hold that note as long as you can

Benefits

• Reduces pooling in the throat

Pull your tongue back to the back of your throat

• You should feel your tongue bulge with your fingers just above your voice box

Benefits

• Airway protection

• Decreased pooling

Instructions

• Lie down on a bed with no pillow

• Keep your shoulders on the bed

• Raise your head to look at your toes

  • Hold this position for 30-60 seconds (or as long as you are able)

    • Increase the time as you are able

  • Raise and lower your head 10-30 times

    • Increase the repetitions as you are able

Benefits

• Helps when a person won't open their mouth

• Improves swallow start

Instructions

• Fill a plastic glove finger with crushed ice

• Suck on the cold finger of the glove, then swallow

Benefits

• Increases the speed of the start of the throat swallow

Instructions

• Pretend to suck something thick through a straw (2-3 seconds)

• Then swallows

Benefits

• Helps to initiate the swallow

Instructions

• Think about swallowing for 3 seconds

• Swallow

Benefits

• Increases back of tongue movement

• Increases back of throat movement

Instructions

• Pretend to gargle water or mouthwash

Benefits

• Increases back of tongue movement

• Increases back of throat movement

Instructions

• Pretend to Yawn

Benefits

• Tongue and mouth muscle strengthening

• Makes food/drink ball formation easier

Instructions

• Cheek puff

  • Puff out your cheeks with your lips closed

    • Move the air from side to side

• Tongue clicks

  • Click your tongue over and over as long as you can

  • Rest and repeat

  • Try to increase speed and repetitions as you are able

• Sucker movement

  • Move a sucker from side to side using your tongue

  • Move a sucker forward and backward using your tongue

Tongue thrusts

• Stick your tongue out as far as possible

• Make sure it is as straight as possible

Corner touches

• Touch your tongue to the corner of your mouth

• Push on the corner for a few seconds for some resistance

• Repeat this on the opposite corner

• Increase repetitions and time as you are able

Benefits

• Increases airway closure

• Makes airway closure voluntary

Instructions

• Take in a breath and let out a little air

• Hold your breath

• Take a bite and chew

• Swallow while still holding your breath

• Cough

• Swallow again

• Breath

Benefits

• Increases airway closure

• Makes airway closure voluntary

Instructions - Use extra effort to perform these steps

• Take in a breath and let out a little air

• Hold your breath

• Take a bite and chew

• Swallow while still holding your breath

• Cough

• Swallow again

• Breath

Benefits

• increases back of tongue movement

Instructions

• Swallow hard

• Focus on squeezing with your tongue

• Pretend you are swallowing a golf ball

Benefits

• Improves airway closure

• Decreases pooling

Instructions

• Put your fingers on your voice box (just resting and not pushing)

  • Do not try to hold your voice box up with your fingers

• Swallow

• As your voice box rises, push your tongue into the roof of your mouth

• Hold this position - Your voice box should still be in its raised position

  • You shouldn't be able to breathe

• Hold it for several seconds

• Relax and breathe