Speech therapy massage for children

Indications for speech therapy massage

The speech therapist selects a type of massage aimed at activating inactive areas of the verbal apparatus. This allows you to gradually restore tone to all muscles responsible for speech function. The technique can be used for dysarthria, rhinolalia, dyslalia, and so on.

Manipulations can be carried out from two months, although at an early age they are done only for prevention. For serious disorders, massage is used to restore vocal capabilities, tone the muscles of the speech system and reduce the time it takes to develop pronunciation. The method can correct even significant neurological symptoms.

Impact on important speech centers - lips, tongue, earlobes and neck, is indicated for children with the following problems:

partial loss or incomplete voice disorder;
treat various defects;
excessive intensity of the facial muscles;
excessive reflexive drooling;
failure of the pronunciation system of speech as a whole;
cerebral palsy;
violations of the formation of articulatory muscles;
all types of speechopathy.

All these disorders can lead to serious speech impediments in the future, and to prevent this, measures must be taken as early as possible.

Speech therapy massage has contraindications. These include colds and respiratory pathologies, stomatitis, enlarged lymph nodes, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and gums, and herpes. With autism, cerebral palsy, seizures, and Down syndrome, special caution is needed.

Drug therapy

Taking medications is aimed at stimulating the development of speech centers of the brain. Only a neurologist can prescribe any medications to a child. The dosage and type of medication should also be selected by the doctor based on the results of the child’s examination. The initial doses are chosen very small, then they are increased. The standard course of treatment lasts from one to three months, after which an analysis of the child’s speech development is carried out. The medications taken have no side effects. Observation by a neurologist is required.

In addition, parents are instructed to carefully monitor the diet of their children. The diet should be varied and take into account the child’s needs for vitamins, minerals and nutrients that strengthen the immune system. For the “building” of tissues, foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins are recommended. Additionally, children are prescribed vitamins B12 and B15.

Benefits and goals of speech therapy massage

The main goals of massage are as follows:

achieving accurate articulation of sounds;
improvement of the condition of the vocal cords;
normalization of respiration during speech;
prevention of psychological stress due to speech defects;
general improvement in the quality of speech and the functioning of the speech apparatus.

Massage helps to normalize the muscle tone of the general, articulatory and facial muscles, reduces the manifestation of paralysis and paresis of these muscles, and reduces pathological movements of the speech muscles. Sometimes the procedure is performed to eliminate excessive salivation in children, which also interferes with normal diction.

Main types of massage

Speech therapy massage has several main types:

Classical. Involves the usual massage techniques: stroking, kneading, rubbing and vibration. Used to activate and stimulate muscle tone.

Spot. It is aimed at biologically active points where blood vessels and nerve endings accumulate.
Hardware. Vacuum or vibration devices are used.

There is probe massage and self-massage. The child does the last one himself, massaging his face and tongue.

Probe massage is performed according to the method of E.V. Novikova. It helps to normalize speech breathing, correct the pronunciation of sounds, increase vocal strength and further normalize the functioning of the nervous system. It is carried out by a specialist. The sequence of using different probes to the required areas is determined individually.

What to do if a child speaks poorly at 6 years old?

Typically, sessions are carried out over a course of 2-3 weeks. A repeat course is possible after 1.5-2 months. The technique is contraindicated for children under six months of age.

Massage of the cervical-collar area for RRR: reviews

It is necessary that a child associate massage not with something painful, but with pleasant manipulations. There are a lot of techniques that will be perceived by a child not as treatment and procedures, but as entertainment and games.

Massage of the cervical-collar area for RRR, reviews:

Natalia. I massaged my son, he is 5 years old. I'm going to school soon, but I have problems with speech. The neurologist prescribed this massage. The son did not go to the doctor’s office, he was constantly hysterical. I made courses at home. After 2 courses there were improvements.
Faith. My daughter had serious problems with speech. The main reason is birth trauma in the cervical spine. A friend recommended a neck massage. They hired a masseuse who came home. The effect is noticeable, but in addition to massage, we did articulation gymnastics.
Elizabeth. I love my son, I invest a lot of money and time in him. He started talking very late, so at the age of 6 he has problems with speech. We constantly massage the neck, upper back, and face. We go to a speech therapist, and my speech is gradually improving.

Facial massage
Many useful articles for the development of children can be found on our website:

Pure sayings for children: the best selection
Children's games from 6 years old for the development of hearing and perception
Educational games for children from 5 years old
Educational games for children from 1 year old
Sayings and proverbs for preschool children

You can safely combine massage with poems and nursery rhymes. You can tell a popular fable, for example, “The bears were riding,” and massage the baby’s collar area. Try to also work on each spine in the cervical region.

Specifics of massage at home

When performing a massage at home, the child should be comfortable. He should not feel anxious; it is important to find an approach to him and distract him with something. Sessions are performed for small children while they are in a stroller or in their mother’s arms. Older children can sit on their back with a small pillow or bolster under their neck or in a chair with a headrest.

Over time, children get used to manipulations and perceive them calmly.

The procedure can be carried out no earlier than two hours after eating. First you need to rinse your child's mouth thoroughly.

Pre-warm-up

You need to start the session with a general facial massage for a few minutes. You need to perform pleasant stroking and vibrating manipulations for the baby. Directions may be different:

The forehead is massaged from bottom to top and from the center to the temples.
The lower eyelid needs to be worked from the outer edge to the inner, the upper - vice versa.
Movements are performed from the nose to the temples and from the edges of the lips to the ears.
Manipulations are also done from the chin to the earlobes.

To relax the muscles of the neck and root of the tongue, the baby's head sways and smoothly turns to the sides. Then the work on the tongue and lips begins.

Various logomassage techniques

Let's look at the basic massage techniques depending on the areas involved.

Speech therapy tongue massage

It is carried out with professional devices (probes, spatulas) or improvised materials (spoons, toothbrushes). Can be done with hands wearing sterile gloves.
During the procedure, dry sterile wipes are placed under the tongue to absorb excess saliva.
If there are complaints of pain and discomfort on the part of the child, work stops until the next time.

Speech therapy facial massage

It is carried out in stages, from top to bottom. The forehead is treated first, then the cheeks, nose, lips, chin and neck.
Impact is applied to special points.
Instead of manual massage, massage with teaspoons can be performed.

Speech therapy hand massage

Working with the hands improves fine motor skills.
Impact on certain points improves nervous and brain activity and gives a positive mood.
The warmth of a specialist’s hands calms and relaxes.

Earlobe massage

First, massage the ears separately, and then together.
The movement begins from the lower edge of the earlobe, gradually moving upward.
All movements are smooth, gentle, but rhythmic.

Massage technique

The massage begins with treating the facial muscles, then others are worked on. Classic techniques with a gradual increase in pressure are used. In this case, discomfort in the child is not allowed. Stroking movements of the forehead and rubbing of the cheeks can be performed. At the end, light tapping and pinching movements are made. The lips are kneaded from the middle to the edges, each lip separately, then move on to the nasolabial fold.

If we are talking about increased muscle arousal, a relaxation technique is used. It includes classic strokes and vibrations. The session begins with the collar and shoulder areas, then the face, lips, and tongue are worked on. Finish the relaxation with smooth, slightly pressing movements, which are repeated 8-10 times.

Special devices are used to massage the tongue. At home, a spoon or index finger can be used. When using a spoon, the necessary areas are stroked and rubbed with its convex side.

To overcome excessive drooling, you need to teach your child to chew properly, first with his head thrown back. He should also learn to suck up saliva and swallow it more often with one push. Another effective exercise is rotating the tongue in the mouth followed by swallowing saliva.

Parents must be patient and work with their baby regularly. The time of sessions is determined by the degree of impairment and the age of the child. It should not exceed 25 minutes, regardless of whether the massage is performed at home or in a medical facility. The first sessions last five minutes, and over time their duration increases.

The course usually includes 10-20 sessions. Massage can be performed daily or at intervals every other day.

Effective types of logomassage

The following types of speech therapy massage are recognized as the most popular.

Classic or manual massage. It is carried out by a specialist using hands and various devices (toothbrush, spatula). Patting, stroking, rubbing, and light vibration are used.
Probe massage according to Novikova. This type of influence was proposed by speech therapist Elena Viktorovna Novikova. This is done using tools (hatchets, forks, etc.).
Acupressure , during which a specialist acts on points associated with the speech apparatus. Stimulation of these points promotes speech activation.
Massage with vibration devices.
Self-massage , during which the baby massages his own facial muscles.

All types of massage (except the last one) are performed by qualified specialists. If it is not possible to regularly conduct classes with a specialist, parents can do logomassage. To do this, they need to undergo training in the necessary massage techniques.

Depending on the final goal, massage is divided into 2 types:

calming (for hypertension, paresis);
activating (for cerebral palsy).

Tongue massage for speech correction

The session is carried out after removing food debris from the mouth, 1.5-2 hours after eating or 2 hours before feeding. Stroking movements of the tongue are made in all directions - this helps to activate the maximum number of muscles.

The massage is done in the following sequence:

Working on the longitudinal muscle from the base to the tip of the tongue.
Stimulation of the transverse muscle from the center to the edges.
Circular and spiral movements over the entire area.
Patting the entire plane of the tongue.
Pressing longitudinal muscles.
Massage the frenulum from top to bottom.
Using a cloth, make rubbing movements.

This technique can also be used at home.

Features of logomassage

Carrying out exercises to correct speech in children is a serious action that requires special training of a specialist, parents and children. Therefore, it is important to know certain preparation rules.

The speech therapist’s preparation before the session consists of drawing up an individual exercise plan for each child and observing sanitary and hygienic standards:

clean individual clothing (gown or suit), medical gloves, mask;
disposable or disinfected instruments;
frequent hand washing or using an antiseptic solution;
the use of an antiseptic solution for the baby’s oral cavity (“Miramistin”, “Hexoral”);
use of sterile wipes.

Preparation of parents and baby is also important.

If the session is held at home, it is necessary to ventilate the room.
The child should not be hungry. But you shouldn’t feed him immediately before the specialist arrives.
If the baby is not in the mood, is capricious and cries, you should postpone the logomassage.
If the baby doesn’t feel well (headache, nausea, other symptoms), you should postpone the session.

The duration of one massage session depends on the age of the child. The smaller the baby, the shorter the work with a speech therapist.

Ages from 0 to 3 years – 5-10 minutes.
Ages from 4 to 7 years – 15-20 minutes.
School-age child – more than 20 minutes.

The first logomassage session should not last more than 5-10 minutes. For the first time, the baby meets a speech therapist, a new experience of mechanical influence. If the child reacted normally the first time, feel free to increase the duration of the work.

A massage course consists of 10-20 procedures. There are 2-3 classes per week. Sometimes, due to special needs, classes can take place every other day or alternate with other rehabilitation activities. If a child needs several courses, then there is a break between them. The minimum duration of the break is 14 days. During this time, the baby’s body has time to readjust and prepare for new exposure.

Articulation and breathing exercises

To increase the effectiveness of speech therapy massage, it is supplemented with articulation and breathing exercises. It is recommended to perform it in front of a mirror. Usually the child repeats the movement after the speech therapist or parent. Such gymnastics may include the following exercises:

Maximum tongue extension.
Pull the tongue towards the nose and chin.
Rocking and abduction of the tongue.
Lips like a tube.
Stretching, raising, lowering lips.
Pursing and licking lips.

Breathing exercises are usually carried out in a playful way. It is useful for kids to blow soap bubbles or balloons. In this case, speech correction should be accompanied by tongue twisters. Constantly learning them will teach the child to cope with sounds that are difficult for him and will help him master the tempo-rhythms of speech.

Contraindications

Logomassage has a number of contraindications:

stomatitis, gingivitis and other diseases of the oral cavity;
conjunctivitis, blepharitis and other eye diseases;
general infectious diseases (chickenpox, influenza, measles and others);
herpetic infection;
pulsation of arteries and veins;
swollen lymph nodes;
skin diseases (dermatitis, lichen);
exacerbation of any somatic disease;
violation of the integrity of the massaged skin (abrasions, cuts);
bruises on the face;
vascular wall disorders, thrombosis;
oncological diseases;
fungal infections of the skin;
the child’s fear of the specialist or devices;
hypersensitivity of the baby's skin.

The local neurologist must issue parents a certificate stating that there are no contraindications for speech therapy massage. An experienced and qualified speech therapist will definitely require this document from parents.

Massage with spoons

The spoon massage method can be used at home. It significantly improves speech development in children. To perform the manipulation you need two pairs of teaspoons. The massage is performed as follows:

The convex surface of the spoon is used to stroke the temporal area.
The eye sockets are stroked in the same way. You need to move along the eyebrow to the outer border of the eye. Under the eye, the movements are carried out in the reverse order.
Circular stroking of the cheeks is done.
The temporal area is rubbed with a heap of a spoon in a spiral. At the end, you need to gently press on the treated area.
Using spiral movements of a heaped spoon, rub the area between the eyebrows.
Using the edge of a spoon, massage your cheeks from the chin to the eyes.
Use the tip of the product to rub the nasolabial area.
Lightly pressing the end of the spoon works on each lip separately.
The area of the cheekbones and chin is kneaded with the round part of the spoon in a circular motion.

Speech therapy massage helps eliminate speech disorders in a child and ensure normal development of the speech apparatus. It must be performed regularly and using the correct technique.

What kind of massage can be used for cerebral palsy in children 3 years old?

For children aged 3 years, massage of the collar area is usually used, less often articulation gymnastics. At this age, the most important thing is to develop fine motor skills of the hands, influencing the centers located on the palms and hands.

What kind of massage can be used for cerebral palsy in children 3 years old:

Therefore, the best option is to purchase prickly balls, small clothespins, and cereals. Let your child sort through the cereal and play with it more often. It is necessary that the active points on the child’s fingers are constantly activated. This stimulates brain development, thereby improving the child's speech.
Remember, neck massage is most effective at the age of 3 years. It improves blood circulation in the brain, thereby improving the overall well-being of the child.
It is best to perform a massage only after consultation with a doctor and demonstration of the exercises by an experienced massage therapist. The fact is that if you press hard enough, you can harm the child.

Massage with a probe