Essential Oils have been used in speech therapy for a long time, and with good reason. It is a very effective way of helping people overcome speech disorders and find their voice. Oils like chamomile can help soothe your nerves and calm you down, making it easier to speak clearly and with confidence.
Oral motor skills are those that have to do with the tongue, lips and jaw. They are essential for speech sounds, including articulation and phonation. The use of essential oils in speech therapy helps to address oral motor practice and increase output for clients.
Many therapists also employ the use of essential oils as a fun way to add in aromatherapy during sessions. Aromatherapy is used to improve behaviors, reduce anxiety, increase focus, decrease sensory overload and more. It is commonly used in occupational therapy (OT) but can be used in speech therapy as well.
In order to use essential oils safely, therapists need to dilute them before applying them to the skin or face. Therapists can mix a few drops of oil into unscented lotion or even just water to create a liquid that can be applied with a cotton ball or cotton swab.
A therapist can also diffuse oils using an aromatherapy diffuser or apply them on their hands and hold them near the face or body of the child they are helping so they can smell it without touching it directly.
Speech therapy can be a challenging experience for young children and adults alike. Though there are some drugs that have been shown to improve speech, we’re talking about a different kind of remedy: essential oils.
These are oils from natural sources that have been shown to improve the way people communicate. They can be used in a diffuser while a patient is practicing their speech, or applied directly to the tongue.
Speech therapy is a process that uses techniques and exercises to help patients improve their speech. The ultimate goal of speech therapy is to improve communication, but it also helps with other aspects of speaking, including cognition and swallowing.
There are many essential oils that can be used in speech therapy. They’re said to help the patient relax so they can focus on effective speech techniques, encourage them to practice their speech techniques outside of the actual sessions, and reduce the stress and anxiety associated with practicing those techniques.
When you think about aromatherapy, you probably think about the cozy, calming scent of lavender, or the invigorating, revitalizing scents of citrus. Maybe you’ve used essential oils to help you sleep better, boost your energy levels, or improve your focus and concentration. But did you know that some essential oils can also help with speech therapy?
Aromatherapy has been shown to have an effect on brain function and behavior. Smells are processed in the olfactory bulb—that’s the part of your brain that’s responsible for the sense of smell—and the olfactory bulb is connected to multiple areas of the brain where processing takes place. Aromatherapy affects these areas of the brain, which means it can affect processes like speech therapy.
The first known use of essential oils was by the Egyptians who used them in their medical treatments. These essential oils were extracted from plants and then diluted with water to make a mixture that was called “Elemi”. This mixture was then applied directly to the skin or inhaled through a mask that was worn on the face. The Egyptians believed that Elemi would help cure many diseases such as coughs and colds, headaches, asthma and even epilepsy. The next known use of essential oils was by the ancient Greeks who believed that it could help cure headaches and other ailments such as rheumatism and arthritis. They also thought it would help improve the immune system.