As an SLP who specializes in kids apraxia, autism, & eating challenges, there are many therapeutic uses of gum chewing. It provides deep proprioceptive input into the jaw, so it can provide wonderful, organizing, sensory feedback.
When introducing gum, it’s important to teach the child HOW to chew it. Depending on the age & skill of the child, he/she may not know how to chew gum in an organized manner. If a child is not organized in his/her chewing, then it’s not going to provide optimum input. Talk Tools has a great gum hierarchy that I use to teach this skill. Many kids have difficulty with one or many of the components of gum chewing: tongue lateralization, bolus control, saliva control, graded & coordinated jaw movements & lip closure. Work on jaw skills via structured oral placement exercises (OPE) should always precede lip, & then tongue exercises. These other structured OPE may need to be taught first or in conjunction with gum chewing. Also, Beckman stretches are important as well.
Once a child is ready for gum, taste & texture are important considerations. Texture: sugar vs sugarless– I recommend gum w/ sugar when a child can chew for only a brief time (<5min). Sugarless gum–because it gets harder over time–is appropriate when a child is able to chew for an extended period of time. So sugarless gum is appropriate for children who are seeking proprioceptive input for sensory organization.
If a child has hypotonia, usually, high taste/flavor like cinnamon, lemon, mint, etc. is recommended. If a child is has eating challenges and is picky about flavors, then tastes close to preferred ones should be selected–sweet, sour, or plain.
It’s important to start with one half of a piece of gum & increase to a full piece once a child is chewing independently. Rarely would I use more than 1 piece at a time. This may be indicated for older kids who are independent, for purely sensory input.
So ask your SLP or call Help Me Speak to find out if your child has all of the skills needed for gum chewing. It’s harder than it looks!
