ARK’S ORO-NAVIGATOR

1. Facilitates Tongue Lateralization:

The primary feature of the Oro-Navigator is its ability to physically guide the tongue from side to side.

• Why this matters for speech: Before a child can articulate complex sounds, they need full range of motion. Lateralization helps develop the muscle tone and control required to shape the tongue for various vowels and consonants.

• The “Cuff” Mechanism: The unique C-shape catches the side of the tongue, allowing the therapist to move the tongue laterally if the patient cannot do it on their own (passive movement) or to provide resistance (active movement).