The ARK proBarbell™ Set for Lip Closure and Strength is a pair of therapeutic oral motor tools designed to build lip closure, strength and endurance, supporting feeding skills, drinking, saliva control and speech development. The set includes a lighter blue barbell and a heavier green barbell, giving a graded way to build strength over time. It is designed for children and adults who benefit from oral motor practice, including autistic children and adults, pupils with ADHD, and people with sensory processing differences or a wider special educational need or learning difference.

How it helps

Each barbell handle measures approximately 13.5cm in length, with weighted resistance at each end equivalent to one coin's weight on the lighter blue barbell and two coins' weight on the heavier green barbell. This graded design offers a safer, more consistent alternative to the traditional home-made method of taping coins to a tongue depressor, allowing a speech and language therapist or parent to track progress as lip strength improves over time.

For schools

• Supports speech and language therapy goals: designed to build lip closure, strength and endurance as part of a structured oral motor programme.
• Fits feeding and communication plans: useful where a pupil's EHCP or care plan includes feeding, drinking, saliva control or speech development targets.
• Graded progression: the lighter blue and heavier green barbells let a therapy team track and build strength gradually across sessions.
• Practical for a SEN or therapy team: the dishwasher-safe design makes it easier to keep shared clinical resources hygienic between pupils.

For parents and home use

• Supports home practice: gives parents a safe, purpose-built way to continue oral motor exercises recommended by a speech and language therapist, rather than improvising with tongue depressors and coins.
• Two strength levels included: start with the lighter blue barbell and progress to the heavier green barbell as your child's lip strength builds.
• Simple to clean: handwash or top-rack dishwasher safe, making it easy to fit into a daily routine.
• Always used with supervision: the manufacturer states this therapeutic tool should be used under adult supervision at all times.

For the workplace

• Supports adult therapy caseloads: speech and language therapists and occupational health teams may use this as part of an individualised care plan, for example following a stroke, or as part of ongoing support for an autistic adult with sensory processing differences.
• Fits reasonable adjustments: employers arranging support under the Equality Act 2010, or via Access to Work, may find this a low-cost addition to a wider oral motor or sensory toolkit recommended by a therapist.
• Straightforward to maintain: the dishwasher-safe design suits shared clinical or occupational health settings where hygiene between uses matters.

For autistic children and adults, a structured, repeatable oral motor exercise can feel more predictable and manageable than the improvised methods it replaces. For pupils and adults with ADHD, the two-stage strength progression gives a clear, motivating goal to work towards during short practice sessions. People with sensory processing differences may benefit from the graded resistance, which allows oral motor input to be tailored to what feels right for them. More broadly, for anyone with a general special educational need or learning difference, building lip closure and strength can support wider feeding, drinking and speech development goals identified by a therapist.

Speech and language therapists commonly recommend graded oral motor exercises to build lip closure, strength and endurance where feeding, drinking, saliva control or speech development have been identified as an area of need. The ARK proBarbell Set is designed as a safer, purpose-built alternative to the traditional practice of taping coins to a tongue depressor for this type of exercise.

If you are a SENCO, speech and language therapist, occupational health team or parent looking for a safe, graded oral motor strengthening tool, the ARK proBarbell Set for Lip Closure and Strength is a practical addition to a wider therapy toolkit. Order today from The Dyslexia Shop.

• Builds lip closure and strength: designed to develop lip closure, strength and endurance through graded practice.
• Two strength levels: a lighter blue barbell (equivalent to one coin's weight on each end) and a heavier green barbell (equivalent to two coins' weight on each end).
• Supports wider skills: can support feeding skills, drinking ability, saliva control and speech development as part of a therapy programme.
• Compact handles: each barbell measures approximately 13.5cm in length.
• Medical-grade materials: manufactured in-house at ARK's facility in Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
• Easy to clean: handwash or top-rack dishwasher safe.
• Pack contents: 1 x lighter blue barbell and 1 x heavier green barbell.

• Two graded strength levels. The lighter blue and heavier green barbells build lip closure and strength gradually, useful for autistic children, adults and pupils with ADHD.
• Safer than DIY alternatives. A purpose-built replacement for taping coins to a tongue depressor, designed for consistent, repeatable practice.
• Works across home, school and workplace settings. Suitable for therapy sessions, home practice, and adult care plans supported by a speech and language therapist or occupational health team.
• Specialist UK retailer. Supplied by The Dyslexia Shop, a UK specialist in resources for autism, ADHD and other learning differences.

What's in the Box

• 1 x blue barbell (lighter strength level)
• 1 x green barbell (heavier strength level)

Care and Cleaning

Handwash or clean on the top rack of a dishwasher.

Delivery and Returns

Standard UK delivery applies. See our Delivery and Returns page for full details.

Safety

This therapeutic tool should be used under adult supervision at all times.

• What is the ARK proBarbell Set for Lip Closure and Strength?
  It is a pair of therapeutic oral motor tools designed to build lip closure, strength and endurance. The set includes a lighter blue barbell and a heavier green barbell, giving a graded way to build strength as part of a therapy programme.
• Is this suitable for autistic children and adults?
  Yes, the structured, repeatable exercise can feel more predictable than improvised alternatives, which many autistic people find easier to manage. It offers a consistent routine that can be practised at the same pace each time.
• Can the ARK proBarbell help with ADHD?
  Yes, the two-stage strength progression gives a clear, motivating goal to work towards during short practice sessions. This can help sustain engagement for children and adults with ADHD during brief oral motor exercises.
• Is this suitable for people with sensory processing differences?
  Yes, the graded resistance between the lighter blue and heavier green barbells allows oral motor input to be tailored to what feels right for the individual. This makes it adaptable for a range of sensory processing needs.
• Can this support pupils with general SEND needs in school?
  Yes, it can support pupils with a range of special educational needs as part of feeding, drinking or speech development goals in an EHCP or care plan. SEN and therapy teams often use it during structured oral motor sessions.
• Can I use this at home with my child?
  Yes, many parents use it at home to continue oral motor exercises recommended by a speech and language therapist. It replaces the traditional method of taping coins to a tongue depressor with a safer, purpose-built tool.
• Can this be used to support an adult employee in the workplace?
  Yes, speech and language therapists and occupational health teams may include it in an adult's individualised care or support plan. Employers arranging reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, or via Access to Work, may find it a practical addition to a wider toolkit.
• What age is the ARK proBarbell Set suitable for?
  The manufacturer does not specify a minimum age, but states the tool should be used under adult supervision at all times. Parents, therapists and employers should use their own judgement based on the individual's needs.