From now on the Z-Vibe is available in the webshop of OMFT.info. The Z-Vibe from manufacturer ARK is a vibrating oral instrument that helps improve a variety of speech and sensory skills. The gentle vibrations provide sensory stimulation that increases oral focus and draws attention to the lips, tongue, cheeks or jaw. The vibrations can also have a calming effect.
There are a variety of attachments for a variety of applications: different sizes, textures, and resistances. The Z-Vibe comes with one attachment: the light blue Probe Tip. It has three different surfaces: bumpy on one side, striped on the other, and smooth on the sides. Use these sides to provide varied sensory input to the gums, palate, cheeks, tongue and lips. Other attachments are:
Preefer Tip
One of the most popular attachments for the Z-Vibe. It has a cylindrical design with long ridges; perfect for when a ‘rolling’ action is desired. Roll it over the lips, over the tongue, into the cheeks, etc. This sensory input helps ‘wake up’ the mouth and increase mouth awareness. It can also help reduce food or texture aversions. It can also be used to work on lip and cheek awareness, lip closure, tongue elevation and sucking action, among other things.
ARK Button Tips
The Button Tips can be used to work on lip closure and lip strength; fundamental skills that are necessary for good speech and feeding development. Speech therapists often use the ‘knot exercise’ where a knot attached to a string is placed behind the lips and pressure is applied. With this attachment, this classic exercise can now be done in a different way. The Button Tips come in pairs and are available in two sizes: the smaller yellow and the larger blue-green.
ARK Bite-n-Chew Tips
For oral motor skills training, focused on biting and chewing. The attachment is 5 cm long, allowing the tip to reach all the way to the back molar for chewing exercises and/or sensory input. The attachment has bumps to gently desensitize the mouth and work on texture acceptance. The texture also simulates the feel of real food during chewing exercises. The Bite-n-Chew Tip can also be used outside the mouth on the cheeks and lips for extra stimulation. There are two versions available: the thinner yellow and the thicker orange.
ARK Y-Tips
The Y-Tips come in a set of three: a thin version (orange), a medium size (magenta) and a thick version (teal). They are specially designed to train jaw gradation, jaw stability and lip closure, as well as stimulate sensory input. The Y-tips are firm but not 100% rigid, so they provide good resistance during practice. Each tip has soft sensory bumps to grip teeth. For softer options to work on chewing skills, see the Bite-n-Chew Tip.
ARK Fine Tip
For working or pointing to a specific spot. The fine tip is about the size of a pencil point and is perfect for providing tactile oral placement cues and controlling the articulators during speech or feeding therapy.
ARK Tongue Tip
Use the Tongue Tip for tongue lateralization (sideways movements) and elevation (vertical movements) exercises. Instruct the person to place the tip of the tongue in the hole and then gently guide the tongue up and down or left and right. This establishes the concept of elevation and lateralization, both important oral motor skills for speech and feeding development. The Tongue Tip can also be used as a tongue scraper, for oral hygiene and oral awareness.
The Z-Vibe itself has a lightweight handpiece with soft bumps for a non-slip grip. The texture of the handpiece can also be used to stroke along cheeks, arms, hands, etc. Twist the Switch Tip at the bottom to make the Z-Vibe vibrate (do not overtighten). The Z-Vibe is approximately 12 cm long and 1 cm in diameter. The instrument is available in the colours ‘lavender’ and ‘royal blue’.
The ARK Z-Vibe can be ordered in the webshop of OMFT.info.
