Oral Motor Skills for Teaching Cup Drinking: Beckman Philosophy

Beckman Philosophy for Transitioning to Straw and Open Cups:

1. Teaching Drinking:

• First need to find the utensil (cup, straw, bottle) that is easiest for the client to use for drinking
• Working to change muscle control
• Easiest drinking utensil is a flexible straw with a closed container, a straw bottle
  • Internal jaw stability and strength to close jaw appropriately
  • Tongue lifting to the roof of the mouth to initiate the swallow
  • Control of the liquid as it comes to the mouth
  • Coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing

2. Skills for Cup Drinking:

• To drink from a regular straw to in an open container (cup) the client needs to have more control with:
  • Head/neck control
  • Internal jaw stability and strength
  • Lip strength to maintain lip seal around the straw
  • Lip rounding and negative pressure to pull the liquid into the mouth
  • Tongue lifting to the roof of the mouth to initiate swallow
  • Control of liquid as it comes into the mouth
  • Coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing
  • Eye-hand coordination
• Never push a child’s head back during process as this can cause choking
• Counting out loud as the fluid is presented and moving through the mouth (1,2,3)
  • Paces the timing of each sip
  • At the count of 3 stop the flow of liquid into the mouth to cue the child to swallow and then breath before the next sip

3. Teaching Open Cup Drinking

• Child’s head can stay level as you present the liquid
  • Sometimes sitting behind the client can be beneficial in supporting child’s head
• Place cup rim gently against client’s upper lip while waiting for lower lip to lift up to seal against the rim of the cup
• Next, encourage client to place his or her hands around the cup with yours and practice this until there is enough control for independence

To find out more information visit: https://www.beckmanoralmotor.com/transition-skills.php