Excessive Drooling in Toddlers

Playing the clarinet is one oral motor activity we are working on at home.

We recently searched online for information related to "excessive drooling in toddlers", based on what we have experienced with Samedh for most of the past year. There was little information to go on, but certainly enough to give us a head start in the right direction. My purpose for sharing our story is to let other families know that if you are seeing similar behaviors in your toddler or preschooler (who is obviously beyond teething), you are not alone.

Samedh is 3.5 years old, and has been drooling excessively for approximately the last eight months. The saliva just runs down his lower lip in a stream-like fashion, almost like he has no control over it. We first noticed the excessive drooling a year ago ONLY when he got excited or laughed at something funny, but now it doesn't seem to have a trigger. Additionally, within the past couple of months he has progressed to licking the back of his hand, chewing on his fingers, and even chewing on objects such as toys, DVD movie cases, his stocking cap, etc.

Based on feedback we received from an adoptive mom who teaches early childhood special education, we believe Samedh may have a delay in oral motor function. She suggested that Samedh is actually trying to build some of those muscles up by putting objects in his mouth. So what we thought was weird behavior, actually turns out to be something quite normal. Her recommendation was that we provide him with a "chew toy" at home and at preschool so that he only uses that toy to get those needs met. There are plastic tubes available that can be strung into a necklace or bracelet so that the child can chew on these when needed, but we decided to try sport wristbands instead. Samedh has been wearing the wristbands faithfully for the past several weeks, and they don't draw unwanted attention in school like a necklace or bracelet would on a boy. Samedh can use them to wipe his chin whenever he drools, and he also "chews" on them when feeling the need to exercise those muscles. Sometimes he likes to wear the wristbands to bed because late at night is when his urge to "chew" seems most powerful.

We have also been trying some activities for strengthening oral motor muscles, including drinking milk through a straw, blowing bubbles, and blowing cotton balls with a straw. One of Samedh's favorite activities is playing his clarinet, which he got for Christmas. I also recently bought him a harmonica, since he so enjoyed playing the one at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We plan to continue these various activities, but truly believe the next best course of action is to have him fully evaluated by a speech pathologist. We will be discussing these issues with his pediatrician this week, and hopefully will have a referral in the near future.