ARK Z-Vibe® Vibrating Oral Motor Tool

Most of us are either visual or auditory learners. But when these two senses are not enough, you may need to physically direct the articulators for certain speech and feeding skills.  ARK's Z-Vibe® is an ideal tool to help you do so. Therapists (and trained caregivers) can use it to provide targeted tactile cues within the oral cavity to teach tongue elevation, tongue lateralization, lip closure, rotary chewing, and much more. For example, use the Z-Vibe® to apply gentle pressure to the alveolar ridge (just behind the upper front teeth). Then remove the Z-Vibe® and instruct the individual to touch the same spot with his/her tongue tip. You can also follow up by prompting the individual to say the tongue tip sounds /t/d/n/l/. 

When just touching the lips, tongue, cheeks, etc. doesn’t provide enough input, simply turn the Z-Vibe® on. Its gentle vibration provides a new level of tactile awareness for additional sensory feedback, to help "wake up" the mouth, and to draw more acute attention to specific movements of the cheek, jaw, lips, and tongue.

Please note that by no means does an individual have to use vibration to acquire skills for feeding and articulation.  Some people simply do not like vibration - and that's ok!  Even without vibration, the Z-Vibe® can still provide a vast range of sensory stimulation. 

Increase Oral Awareness:
The Z-Vibe is highly recommended for individuals with hyposensitivities and low oral tone. Its gentle vibration can help increase oral awareness and provide much needed proprioceptive input to the lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw. For sensory-seekers who crave oral stimulation, massaging the gums with the Soft Brush Tip can be particularly helpful.

Decrease Oral Sensitivities and Food/Texture Aversions:
The Z-Vibe is also recommended for hypersensitive individuals. In these cases, vibration as well as the various textures/shapes of the tips can help gradually desensitize the mouth and decrease oral aversions and sensory defensiveness.

Calm and Soothe:
Vibration can be a very helpful tool for calming and organizing. The Z-Vibe's smooth vibration provides gentle sensory feedback to the lips, gums, tongue, jaw, and inside the cheek area. This oral input (under supervised use) can help decrease self-biting or chewing on one's hands, shirts, pencils, etc.  While it is mostly used inside the oral cavity, it can also be used outside the mouth on the cheeks, neck, and arms for additional feedback.

Transition from Puréed to Textured Foods:
The Textured Spoon Tips have a textured surface on the back side of the spoon. Use these tips with the Z-Vibe in order to gradually introduce new textures during feeding. Or, use the ears of the Animal Tips as spoons.  Allow the individual to mouth the tips and explore their various textures and shapes.

Increase Interest in Therapy:
Use the Z-Vibe with the friendly Animal Tips and/or the Popette Tip with a lollipop in order to spark attention and increase participation in therapy.

Teach Biting and Chewing Skills:
Use the Z-Vibe with Bite-n-Chew Tip to help develop and improve the oral motor skills necessary for feeding (such as a sustained bite, rhythmic chewing, jaw strength and stability, and more). This tip attachment is also available in an extra long (XL) version that can reach all the way to the back molar area.  As well as an extra long + textured option that has extra sensory bumps.  As another option, the Bite Tube Tip is essentially a hollow version of the Bite-n-Chew Tip - you can put puréed foods inside the tip for functional biting/chewing practice.  Because they're hollow and therefore easier to bite, the Bite Tube Tips are also recommended for individuals with a weak bite.

Develop Oral Motor Skills:
The Z-Vibe provides a safe and effective way to work on the oral motor skills necessary to make speech sounds and to manage food. These skills include: lip/cheek/tongue awareness, lip closure, lip extension, jaw stability and grading, tongue and jaw dissociation, tongue elevation, tongue retraction and protrusion, tongue lateralization, and a tongue bowl. Using the Z-Vibe, therapists and caregivers can target specific movements within the oral cavity - physically demonstrating where the tongue, lips, and jaw should be for each skill. For specific exercises on how to improve these goals, consult our blog and Tips & Techniques for the Z-Vibe® & Z-Grabber®.

Improve Oral Hygiene:
Use the Brush Tips for gentle gum massage and teeth cleaning and to transition individuals into the eventual use of a regular toothbrush. The Tongue Tip can also be used as a tongue scraper for dental care with the Z-Vibe.

Work on Writing Skills:
When used with the Pen, Pencil, or Crayon Tips, the Z-Vibe becomes the Tran-Quill® Pen/Pencil/Crayon - an excellent tool for sensory motor needs. The vibration increases focus and attention while working on handwriting, homework, and other writing tasks, but does not affect the actual writing.

Who manufactures the Z-Vibe®?
We do! At ARK Therapeutic, you are buying directly from the manufacturer and designer of this tool.

The Z-Vibe® is the brainchild of Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP and her husband John Lowsky, Jr., BS ME. Having worked with children and adults with speech and feeding disorders for over 35 years, Debbie fully understands the challenges that the special needs community faces every day. The Z-Vibe® was therefore designed with safety, durability, and versatility in mind.  To learn more about us, click click here.

Are the materials safe?
Yes!  ARK Therapeutic was founded with the desire to serve the special needs community with quality products to improve their quality of life. We are one of the only companies in the industry registered with the FDA, and our products are listed with the FDA and manufactured in the USA.  ARK products are also medical grade, FDA compliant, and contain NO lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA, or latex. 

Why does it require a special battery?
We had to modify the battery in order to be able to make the Z-Vibe in the USA at an affordable price point.  You are welcome to compare the Z-Vibe battery to regular quad energizers and make the adjustment yourself, but we can only guarantee that the ones we modify are done correctly.  

Who can benefit from the Z-Vibe®?
ARK's Z-Vibe® can benefit individuals of all ages and cognitive abilities, particularly those with an articulation disorder, feeding disorder, sensory issue, and/or oral motor difficulties. These difficulties may be seen individuals with, but not limited to, Down syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, SPD, etc. Caregivers should consult with your speech and/or occupational therapists to see if the Z-Vibe® can be incorporated into your loved one's therapeutic treatment plan.

Is vibration right for everyone?
Many individuals crave oral sensory input and welcome stimulation from the Z-Vibe®. However, each person has his or her own set of sensory preferences, likes, and dislikes, and so some may be less receptive to vibration than others. Vibration is very alerting, and it may take time to establish trust and acceptance. Start slowly and gradually introduce the device without vibration first. Then, turn it on and show it to the individual, allowing him or her to feel the vibration in the hands or on the arms, slowly working towards acceptance into the mouth. Remember, however, that the Z-Vibe® can always be used in the OFF position without vibration. Even without vibration, the Z-Vibe® can be used for oral motor stimulation and speech/feeding exercises.

I am a parent/caregiver. Can I use the Z-Vibe® at home?
Absolutely! It is very important for parents to follow through with recommended therapy techniques at home. On average, children see their speech therapists 1-2 times per week, but you see your child every day! Accelerate learning by working on your child's therapy homework every day, several times throughout the day. Ask your therapist to explain AND demonstrate the exercises and to give you tips for making progress at home. Detailed exercises on how to use the Z-Vibe can also be found in Tips & Techniques for the Z-Vibe® & Z-Grabber®.

Can my child use the Z-Vibe® on his own?
The Z-Vibe® is to be used by a therapist and/or parent.  If the child wants to hold the Z-Vibe him/herself, we recommend using hand-over-hand assistance.  As a medical device that contains small parts, it must be supervised at all times.