Hickey®

Does your child struggle with drooling, or do they find it difficult to maintain a tight seal around a straw or spoon? You're not alone, and there is a professional solution! The SpeechGears Hickey® is a specialized oral motor therapy tool designed to target lip strength and oral-vacuum (suction) skills. For many children with speech delays or hypotonia, the lips are a "weak link" that affects both articulation and feeding. The Hickey provides a fun, tactile, and effective way to "work out" these muscles, making it a favorite among speech-language pathologists (SLPs) looking for high-results feeding therapy supplies.

Key Features

• Hollow "Suction-Ready" Design: The unique cylindrical, hollow shape is specifically engineered to help users practice lip rounding and suction exercises.
• Tactile Texture: Features a specialized surface that provides enough sensory input to keep the brain engaged without being overwhelming for sensitive users.
• Medical-Grade Safety: Made from 100% non-toxic, BPA-free, and lead-free materials, ensuring a safe experience for long-term clinical or home use.
• Perfect Resistance Level: The material is firm enough to provide resistance for muscle building but flexible enough to be comfortable for beginners.
• Easy-to-Clean Surface: Designed with hygiene in mind, this tool can be sterilized quickly between uses, making it an ideal addition to any SLP toolkit.

Key Benefits

• Strengthens Lip Seal: By encouraging the "pucker" motion, it helps patients master the lip closure necessary for eating without spills and producing sounds like /p/, /b/, and /m/.
• Reduces Drooling: Improved lip strength and swallow awareness naturally lead to better saliva management and a reduction in unwanted drooling.
• Foundation for Straw Drinking: The Hickey acts as a "pre-straw" trainer, teaching the specific suction and lip-rounding muscles required for drinking from a cup.
• Boosts Sensory Awareness: For children with oral hyposensitivity, the unique shape and feel of the Hickey help them "find" their lips and improve their overall oral self-awareness.
• Versatile Speech Support: Beyond feeding, it is a fantastic articulation therapy aid for any child working on sounds that require lip rounding or protruding.

How to Use

• Lip Rounding: Place the Hickey between the patient's lips and have them "pucker" and hold the tool in place without using their teeth.
• The "Pop" Exercise: Have the patient wrap their lips tightly around the tool and pull it out quickly to create a "popping" sound, which builds explosive lip strength.
• Suction Practice: Encourage the child to try and "suck" air through the hollow tube while keeping a tight lip seal around the outside.
• Resistance Training: Gently try to pull the tool away while the patient resists by squeezing their lips together.
• Sanitization: After each session, simply wash with warm water and mild soap. It is recommended for individual use to maintain the highest hygiene standards.

Conclusion

If you are ready to take a "pro" approach to lip strength and sensory regulation, the SpeechGears Hickey is the tool you've been waiting for. It turns complex oral motor exercises into simple, repeatable tasks that yield real-world results in speech clarity and feeding independence. Don’t let lip weakness hold back progress—add this essential speech therapy equipment to your collection today and see the difference that targeted lip training can make!