Child with ADHD cannot put tongue to spot

I wondered if you could share your thoughts. One child in particular has been seen a number of times and simply cannot put tongue tip to spot.  He is only 6 and has ADHD quite bad.  I am at a loss of what I should do.  My clinical skills tell me he is too young and his behaviors are getting in the way, but the mom is pleading with me ‘not to give up’! I have tried everything that I know how to do with my skills but it has been futile.  It’s hard enough for typical kiddos, but depending upon the level of ADHD, I just don’t know what you can expect.  Please advise.

In spite of experiencing difficulties that you feel might be exacerbated from the ADHD, let’s be absolutely certain that you have spent enough time using the 2 or 3 Way Mouth Prop to help him focus on the tongue movement without the involvement of the mandible.  With the Mouth Prop of your choice, have him elevate and/or hold tongue to alveolar ridge.  If he CAN do as I just described, then eventually remove the mouth prop ever, ever soooo slowly as he continues to keep his tongue to spot.  Now, I would suggest that this one thing be the focus of an entire therapy session since it is so important in order to progress.  Don’t feel like you have to do anything else.  Use different “games/activities” with the same goal.  With prop in place, tell him to touch tongue to spot …and then he gets to move one space on the game board or push on stick into a pop up game, etc.  Then do the TTS again and one more move of the game, etc.  Change games if necessary, but just work on that one skill until accomplished before moving further.  I hope this helps to improve his abilities and that he can move forward with the orofacial myology treatment.