a l

or hanism
mec i t
exa m k
s k c a r d s a n d
s to
ta g f o r m
c o r d i n n o r a l
re p l e te a m g
c o m s m e x a r
a n i e nb e
mechBy: Deana Kahl
Created
 oral mechanism exam kit
These materials were created for use in a speech
therapy setting, specifically during an examination of
the oral motor mechanism. I have included oral
mechanism exam task cards as well as an examination
recording sheet. I put all these materials into my “Oral
Mechanism Exam Kit”. I have included pictures of my
kit. Along with these printables I also have a pencil
pouch, gloves, tongue depressors and a pen light in my
kit.
Examples
 exam

exam
oral

oral
task cards

task cards
mechanism

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

mechanism Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP
ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION
Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability. LIPS
q Open posture
q Closed posture
q Pucker
q Hold pucker (with resistance)
q Smile (lips closed)
q Puff cheeks (move air side to side)
q Labial sounds: /b, p, m/
q Labial mobility: /i, u/ Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION

Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability. LIPS
q Open posture
q Closed posture
q Pucker
q Hold pucker (with resistance)
q Smile (lips closed)
q Puff cheeks (move air side to side)
q Labial sounds: /b, p, m/
q Labial mobility: /i, u/ Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP
ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION face &
Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability.
Jaw
q Face-to-face at rest
q Smile with lips closed
q Smile with lips open (note bite)
q Open mouth (note dentition/palate)

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

q Close mouth (hold 10 sec.)
q Take two breaths (mouth closed)

ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION face &

Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability.
Jaw
q Face-to-face at rest
q Smile with lips closed
q Smile with lips open (note bite)
q Open mouth (note dentition/palate)
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

q Close mouth (hold 10 sec.)

q Take two breaths (mouth closed)
ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION tongue
Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability.
q Protrude the tongue
q Retract the tongue
q Move tongue tip to the left
q Move tongue tip to the right
q Lick lips (all the way around)
q Lift the tongue tip up

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

q Lower the tongue tip down
q Move side-to-side quickly
q Side-to-side with resistance

ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION

Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability.
tongue
q Protrude the tongue
q Retract the tongue
q Move tongue tip to the left
q Move tongue tip to the right
q Lick lips
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

q Lift the tongue tip up

q Lower the tongue tip down
q Move side-to-side quickly
q Side-to-side with resistance
ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION Voice &
Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability.
Velum
q Elicit gag reflex
q Say “ahhh” (flat pitch, note palate)
q Say “ahh” (pitch glide up)
q Say “ahh” (pitch glide down)
q Say ”/eee/” (pitch glide)

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

q Say and hold /s/ (note s:z ratio)
q Say and hold /z/ (note s:z ratio)
ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION Voice &
Directions: Prompt the patient to perform each task. Note ability. Velum
q Elicit gag reflex
q Say “ahhh” (flat pitch, note palate)
q Say “ahh” (pitch glide up)
q Say “ahh” (pitch glide down)
q Say ”/eee/” (pitch glide)
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

q Say and hold /s/ (note s:z ratio)

q Say and hold /z/ (note s:z ratio)
 ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION
Patient’s Name: __________________________________ Date: _________
Directions: Complete the tasks on the task cards. Note the patient’s abilities below. If an area is abnormal, write
a short description in the abnormal box.

LIPS WNL Abnormal

Symmetry
(normal/droops)
Movement
(normal/jerky/spasms/slow)
Range of Motion
(normal/reduced)
Strength
(normal/weak)

face & Jaw WNL Abnormal

Symmetry
(normal/droops)
Movement
(normal/jerky/spasms/slow)
Dentition
(normal/occlusion/hygiene)
Range of Motion
(normal/reduced/noises)
Breathing
(mouth/nose)

voice & Velum WNL Abnormal

Range of Motion
(normal/reduced/gag reflex)
Palate
(normal/high/low/fistula/cleft)
Uvula
(normal/deviates/absent)
Phonation
(normal/pitch breaks/s:z)
Nasality
(normal/hyponasal/hypernasal) Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP
 ORAL MECHANISM EXAMINATION
Tongue WNL Abnormal
Appearance
(color/size/symmetry)
Frenulum
(size/length)
Excursion
(normal/deviates/groping)
Movement
(normal/jerky/spasms/slow)
Range of Motion
(normal/reduced)
Strength
(normal/weak)

Summary:
q Adequate for speech sound production
q Inadequate for speech sound production
q Structure Impairment
q Function Impairment
Notes: ______________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg, M.S., CCC-SLP

___________________________________
___________________________________
TERMS OF USE
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Thank you so much for your download! I truly appreciate your business
and I hope it is helpful with your students. If you have any questions or
concerns, please feel free to contact me through TPT or e-mail at
deana.kahlenberg@gmail.com.

FONTS BY: CLIP ART BY:

*Please note that speech and language therapy should only be conducted with or as advised by a licensed
speech-language pathologist.*