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What Is Tension?
Almost every speech language pathologist has a certain "bag of tricks" that they use in order to elicit that tricky /r/ sound. Often this includes a significant emphasis on tongue positions (i.e. retroflexed vs bunched). While this is incredibly important, another essential component to elicitation of a clear /r/ sound is tension. Tension is fundamental to produce a clear and consistent /r/ sound by creating stability or anchoring the tongue, helping to define tongue shaping, and managing airflow. Because the /r/ is not visualized, learners may adopt a relaxed tongue posture creating an incorrect motor plan. Many SLPs may tell their students to bring the tongue back and make it "tight," but without a visual or tactile cue, this may be hard for some individuals to understand and follow.
However, there are many ways to teach about tongue tension that make this concept easy for students to grasp and be able to put the skill into practice. One very effective strategy is the "balloon trick." Below are the steps in order to turn this teaching strategy into a fun and interactive activity!
Balloon Trick
Materials needed:
- Flour
- Scoop
- Pink or Red Balloons
- Chopstick or Pencil
- Funnel
1. Begin by securing a balloon around the small end of a funnel.
2. Scoop a small amount the flour in the funnel.
3. Use a chopstick or pencil to push the flour into the balloon until it is filled and compact.
4. Lastly, tie the balloon and shape it into a "tongue."
Once you have created a balloon for yourself and your student, "hold the balloon with your palm down (balloon toward the floor) and squeeze as you pull it back with your fingers."
This activity is very motivating and a great way for your students to visualize tension to produce a clear /r/ sound! For more useful tricks to elicit tongue tension for /r/ visit SLP and creator "Peachie Speechie's" website: https://peachiespeechie.com/blogs/posts/tongue-tension-for-the-r-soundsrsltid=AU7gw4X4zqkL4hbMgXAa50mCWef8s3WxE6teKM4RzsTeTfMBWXot8-tz
-Hannah Collie M.S., CCC-SLP
Date
Share
What Is Tension?
Almost every speech language pathologist has a certain "bag of tricks" that they use in order to elicit that tricky /r/ sound. Often this includes a significant emphasis on tongue positions (i.e. retroflexed vs bunched). While this is incredibly important, another essential component to elicitation of a clear /r/ sound is tension. Tension is fundamental to produce a clear and consistent /r/ sound by creating stability or anchoring the tongue, helping to define tongue shaping, and managing airflow. Because the /r/ is not visualized, learners may adopt a relaxed tongue posture creating an incorrect motor plan. Many SLPs may tell their students to bring the tongue back and make it "tight," but without a visual or tactile cue, this may be hard for some individuals to understand and follow.
However, there are many ways to teach about tongue tension that make this concept easy for students to grasp and be able to put the skill into practice. One very effective strategy is the "balloon trick." Below are the steps in order to turn this teaching strategy into a fun and interactive activity!
Balloon Trick
Materials needed:
- Flour
- Scoop
- Pink or Red Balloons
- Chopstick or Pencil
- Funnel
1. Begin by securing a balloon around the small end of a funnel.
2. Scoop a small amount the flour in the funnel.
3. Use a chopstick or pencil to push the flour into the balloon until it is filled and compact.
4. Lastly, tie the balloon and shape it into a "tongue."
Once you have created a balloon for yourself and your student, "hold the balloon with your palm down (balloon toward the floor) and squeeze as you pull it back with your fingers."
This activity is very motivating and a great way for your students to visualize tension to produce a clear /r/ sound! For more useful tricks to elicit tongue tension for /r/ visit SLP and creator "Peachie Speechie's" website: https://peachiespeechie.com/blogs/posts/tongue-tension-for-the-r-soundsrsltid=AU7gw4X4zqkL4hbMgXAa50mCWef8s3WxE6teKM4RzsTeTfMBWXot8-tz
-Hannah Collie M.S., CCC-SLP
