Low muscle tone

      Kids with Down syndrome have a large tongue, small mouth, and low muscle tone which results in the child leaving his or her mouth open. For Mason we were told from his Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor he does not have a large tongue however he does have low muscle tone which we see more often now that he is getting older. He doesn't stick his tongue out ever but we have noticed him leaving his mouth open more often. Low muscle tone results in delay of speech, difficult for him to drink from a sippy (he wears more then he drinks), and also leaving his mouth open.
      In therapy we have been introduced to different techniques and ideas to help Mason strengthen his mouth

TWIZZLERS TWIZZLERS TWIZZLERS one of the tools we use is Twizzlers, they require alot of chewing and taste delicious!
Other things we are using right now is carrot sticks, beef jerky, celery sticks, different length and size straws, frozen fruit in his mesh bag. Anything he has to really bite down on and chew. We are constantly giving him something to chew on. Right now he loves his twizzlers and so does his daddy. ha ha.
       A result in low muscle tone is also sensory issues. Mason is constantly searching for ways to get sensory input, one of the ways is he can hit his face on something or hit his head and purposely do it again because he likes the feeling of it. So of course we don't want him to do that so some things we are trying is more facial massages, over using his teether (that vibrates), also giving him sour, or spicy foods to "waken" his mouth. Seems to be doing the trick. We have seen a huge improvement since we started these techniques and since then he has learned to say "bu bye!" This will be something we will constantly have to work at but we accept that challenge! :)