The DnZ-Vibe® is a vibratory oral motor tool that can help build oral tone and improve a variety of speech, feeding, and sensory skills. Use it to provide a varied sensory experience and/or to provide targeted tactile cues within the oral cavity. Its gentle vibration provides a new level of sensory stimulation to increase oral focus and draw more attention to the lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw. Vibration can also be very calming, soothing, and organizing.
The DnZ-Vibe®'s sleek, innovative design features a lightweight, textured, aluminum metal handpiece. The texture around the handle provides a slip-proof grip, and it can also be brushed along the cheeks, arms, hands, etc. for additional tactile input. The handle comes with a blue Probe Tip on one end and a Switch Tip on the other. Use the Probe Tip for oral motor assessment and development. This end of the handle is sealed off from the internal components so that no saliva, water, or moisture can compromise the unit from that end. To turn the unit on, simply twist the Switch Tip at the opposite end of the handle just until the unit starts to vibrate (please do not over-tighten!). This end of the handle is open so that you can easily replace the battery when necessary. The Switch Tip can also be replaced with any other tip in order to use two tips simultaneously. Choose from over 35 optional tip attachments (sold separately) to create a custom therapy tool. From brushes to spoons to pencils and more, the possibilities are endless!
Most people are either visual or auditory learners. Sometimes, however, these two senses are not enough, and we look to the sense of touch to teach certain skills. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) have been trained to use tactile input to teach individuals how to lateralize their tongue, elevate their tongue tip, make a tongue bowl, close their lips, learn a rotary chew, position the articulators for sound production, and much more. The DnZ-Vibe is a tool to help therapists work on these skills in and around the mouth.
Unlike other tools in the SLP toolbox, the DnZ-Vibe allows therapists to use targeted tactile input within the oral cavity to improve muscle tone and movement of the articulators. The DnZ-Vibe also takes tactile learning to the next level with the added bonus of vibration. It can always be used in the off position without vibration. Or, it can be turned on to vibrate. The vibration will provide a new level of sensory stimulation to increase oral focus and to draw more acute attention to specific movements of the cheek, jaw, lips, and tongue.
Increase Oral Awareness:
The DnZ-Vibe is highly recommended for individuals with hyposensitivities and low oral tone. Its gentle vibration will 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 is particularly effective.
Decrease Oral Sensitivities and Food/Texture Aversions:
The DnZ-Vibe is also recommended for hypersensitive individuals. In these cases, vibration as well as the various scents/textures of the tips can gradually desensitize the mouth, decreasing oral aversions and sensory defensiveness.
Calm and Soothe:
Some individuals with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), etc. have inappropriate oral behaviors, such as self-biting or chewing on miscellaneous (and sometimes hazardous) non-food items. Vibration is a very helpful tool for calming and organizing. The DnZ-Vibe's smooth vibration provides gentle sensory feedback to the lips, gums, tongue, jaw, and inside the cheek area. 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 DnZ-Vibe in order to gradually introduce new textures during feeding. Or, use the ears of the Animal Tips to feed and allow the individual to mouth the tips and explore their various textures and shapes.
Increase Interest in Therapy:
Use the DnZ-Vibe with the Scented Bite-n-Chew Tips, 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 DnZ-Vibe with Bite-n-Chew Tips to develop and improve the oral motor skills necessary for feeding, including a sustained bite, rhythmic chewing, jaw strength and stability, and more. These tips are available in berry and citrus scents that simulate the smell of real food as well as extra long (XL) versions that can reach all the way to the back molar area. The Animal Tips can also be used to practice biting, chewing, and jaw grading and stability.
Develop Oral Motor Skills:
The DnZ-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 DnZ-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 Tips & Techniques for the Z-Vibe® DnZ-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 Scraper, Popette, and Floss Tips can also be used for dental care with the DnZ-Vibe.
Work on Writing Skills:
When used with the Pen or Pencil Tips, the DnZ-Vibe becomes the Tran-Quill™ Pen/Pencil - an excellent tool for oral 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.
The link Below demonstrates the use of an Ark DnZ Vibe Aluminium to Promote Mouthing and Oral Exploration.