OBJECT:

Drinking through a crazy straw can help to improve many functions frequently found to be weak in the clients who seek our assistance.

1. interhemispheric integration
2. binocular functions (how the two eyes work together as a team)
3. light sensitivity
4. sound sensitivity
5. articulation
6. bowel and bladder control.

No, this is not as strange as it sounds. When you examine the importance of sucking in human development, it is truly profound. Not only do we suck for nourishment, but in sucking we do many other amazing things:

1. We integrate the two sides of our mouth and cheeks and thereby stimulate the two cerebral hemispheres in a coordinated rhythmic fashion. This enhances our interhemispheric integration in general. We rely on interhemispheric integration to be able to process language, balance our instincts with logic, and so many other functions frequently compromised in neurobehavioral disorders as well as in brain injury.
   
2. As we suck our trigeminal nerves are stimulated, and they in turn help regulate many aspects of our vision, including the ability of our eyes to converge--that is focus together on a target.
   
3. One reason that people become more light sensitive is that the two eyes do not team in their processing of the visual images, which of course is based on perception of light and darkness. Another is that the pupils have a reduced degree of reactivity to light. Drinking through the straw enhances these functions.
   
4. Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve directly stimulates the nerves that service the ear, also. We are all familiar with how chewing gum or sucking on hard candy helps people tolerate the pressure change in their ears during take-off and landing on flights.
   
5. Of course, we increase tongue and lip control and coordinated breathing, all of which support our ability to speak with good articulation.

As Paula Garbourg (affectionately called Dr. Paula by those she has helped) states in her book The Secret of the Ring Muscles, when we strengthen any of our sphincter muscles (such as the lips and also the esophagus) we stimulate all the sphincters in our body (such as the pupils of the eyes and the bowel and bladder, too).

 

PRECAUTIONARY NOTE:

If the individual has a tendency or has a history of crossed-eyes, make sure that s/he looks at a distant object while drinking through the straw.  During pregnancy, women should NOT use a crazy straw, as the heavy sucking may promote premature contractions.  Don’t forget to rinse the straw out very well after each drink, so harmful bacteria do not build up in the loops.

For individuals who cannot suck now or may never have been able to suck, there are several activities that we have developed to help stimulate and strengthen the sucking reflex. Please feel free to contact The HANDLE Institute for help on this issue.

 

MATERIALS:

All you need is a crazy straw and a clear drink that the person enjoys. For some people whose ears are very sensitive, a regular straw should be used instead of a crazy straw, because you have to suck much harder through a crazy straw.

PROCEDURE:

Encourage the client to hold the straw in the center of his/her mouth, and to drink one or two drinks each day slowly, relaxing between sips. Do not encourage sucking of fluids if there is fear that the client will aspirate the fluids. A client for whom this is a real fear should try to suck hard enough  to create suction and to transfer an object from one place to another (i.e., the napkin from one side of the tray to another).  If the individual’s eyes tend to wander or to turn out, rather than to converge, make sure that all drinking is done with eyes closed.

That’s all there is to it, other than staying in touch with your health care providers and rehabilitation team so they can help you assess the benefits you are achieving from this go-anywhere, non-obvious, even fun, therapeutic activity.