ARK proButton Set for Lip Closure and Strength

The ARK proButton Set is a pair of double ended oral motor tools designed to build lip closure and lip strength. It is intended for therapists, school staff and parents working with children and adults on the lip skills that support speech, feeding, drinking and saliva control. The set is based on the traditional button pull exercise, but replaces buttons and string with safer tools that have no small parts or thin string.

How it helps

Each handle has a button at each end, giving four graded sizes across the set. Start with the largest button that fits comfortably. Place it inside the lips, in front of the teeth, and ask the user to close their lips around it while you apply a gentle tug for resistance. As skills improve, move down to smaller buttons, which ask more of the lips. The game-like tug makes practice more engaging.

For schools

• Supports oral motor targets set by a speech and language therapist.
• Numbered button sizes from 1 to 4 make progress simple to track.
• Two colour coded handles help staff choose the right size quickly.
• Washes by hand or on the top rack of a dishwasher.

For parents and home use

• Lets you continue lip strengthening activities between therapy sessions.
• A playful tug and pull activity that can be built into daily routines.
• No small parts or string to manage.

Supporting SEND and learning differences

Some children and young people with SEND find it hard to keep their lips closed, which can affect speech sounds, eating, drinking and managing saliva. Short, regular practice with graded tools, guided by a therapist's plan, can help build strength and give consistent support across school and home.

Why lip strength matters

Good lip closure helps keep food and drink in the mouth, supports sounds such as p, b and m, and helps manage saliva. Working against gentle resistance, in small steps from larger to smaller buttons, allows strength and control to build gradually.

If you would like help deciding whether this set suits your learner, our team is happy to help.

• Design: Two double ended handles with a button at each end for tug and pull lip exercises.
• Sizes: Yellow handle buttons 1 and 2 (about 1.27 cm and 1.52 cm / 0.5 and 0.6 inches); Teal handle buttons 3 and 4 (about 1.78 cm and 2.03 cm / 0.7 and 0.8 inches).
• Dimensions: Each handle is just under 15.2 cm (6 inches) long.
• Material: Medical-grade materials.
• Use: To be used under adult supervision at all times.
• Package contents: 1 yellow and 1 teal proButton tool.
• Made in: Columbia, South Carolina, USA.

• Targeted SEND support. Builds lip closure for learners with oral motor needs as part of a therapist's plan.
• Safer button pull. No small parts or thin string, unlike the traditional exercise.
• School and home practice. Numbered sizes make it easy to follow the same plan in class and at home.
• Trusted maker. Made in the USA by ARK Therapeutic and supplied by UK specialist The Dyslexia Shop.

What's in the Box

• 1 x Yellow proButton tool (buttons 1 and 2)
• 1 x Teal proButton tool (buttons 3 and 4)

Care and Cleaning

Wash by hand or on the top rack of a dishwasher.

Delivery and Returns

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

Safety and Age Suitability

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

• What is the ARK proButton Set?
  It is a set of two double ended oral motor tools for building lip closure and lip strength. It is based on the traditional button pull exercise but uses safer tools without small parts or thin string. Each end has a button, giving four graded sizes.
• Who is it for?
  It is for therapists, school staff and parents supporting children or adults who are working on lip closure and strength. ARK states it should be used under adult supervision at all times. The page does not give a specific age range.
• Does it help children with SEND?
  It can support children with SEND who have weak lip closure, which may affect speech, eating, drinking or saliva control. Used as part of a plan from a speech and language therapist, it gives structured, graded practice. It is a therapy tool, not a toy.
• Can it be used in school?
  Yes, it can be used in school with adult supervision as part of an oral motor programme. Numbered, colour coded buttons help staff follow the therapist's plan and record progress. The tools can be cleaned in a dishwasher between sessions.
• How do I use it at home?
  Choose the largest button that fits comfortably and place it inside the lips, in front of the teeth. Ask the user to close their lips around it while you give a gentle tug. Move to smaller buttons as skills improve, following your therapist's advice.
• What sizes are the buttons?
  The yellow handle has buttons of about 1.27 cm (0.5 inches) and 1.52 cm (0.6 inches), numbered 1 and 2. The teal handle has buttons of about 1.78 cm (0.7 inches) and 2.03 cm (0.8 inches), numbered 3 and 4. Each handle is just under 15.2 cm (6 inches) long.
• How do I clean the tools?
  Wash them by hand or on the top rack of a dishwasher. Clean them after every session, especially if they are shared between learners, and store them somewhere clean and dry. Check them regularly and stop using them if they show signs of damage.