u/Educational_Joke7716

Hi!

I am curious about your experiences using mouth models. What do you like about them? How have you seen it work?

What models do you currently use? What could be better?

I want to make an affordable mouth model, because I tried it with a deafblind client and it was extremely helpful. I think that tactile material should be extremely accessible, and as a grad student and someone who received therapy as a child, it would have been extremely helpful for me as well.

Please share your thoughts and expertise! I made a startup so that I can create low cost tactile materials such as the mouth model, and make it more accessible for all SLPs. If you have any other connections or people that I could speak to, please share that as well!

Hi all!

I'm looking for feedback and thoughts on your experiences using a mouth model for therapy. I worked with a deaf and blind client for whom I used a 3d printed mouth model, and he absolutely loved it and it was super helpful for him. I am a grad student, and want to create affordable mouth models so that clients can have tactile materials that work for them. I am also struggling to find research specific to the efficacy of using mouth models for articulation. As a kid who received therapy, it would have been really helpful for me since I'm neurodivergent as well. I have also spoken to multilingual individuals who claim for it to be helpful. It is likely I will post throughout the next few months, but as a student too, a mouth model would have really helped me.

• What makes a mouth model actually helpful in practice?
• What sounds or client populations would benefit most?
  • What would make it more accessible/beneficial for the different populations?
• Has it helped for teaching tongue placement? Why?
• What features are missing from current models?
• Would a tactile model be useful for teaching tongue placement?
• Would you use it in therapy, home practice, or parent/caregiver training?
• How much do you currently pay for tactile materials like this?
  • If you don't, what is a reasonable price for something like this?

I will be searching for investors, and any information is always helpful. If you have any ideas (even if it doesn't sound possible), please share them!

I have lots more questions of course, but if you can just share any thoughts and experiences, that would be extremely helpful! I want to help SLPs whose clients need tactile materials to support their therapy.

I really appreciate your help!