Great question!
First, a disclaimer. It's important to seek medical advice from someone who knows every detail about you or your child. We can only share information about our past experiences in order to provide some insight into your possible situation.
That being said, based on your question and my past experiences, here goes...
You are asking about the difference between these two devices:
Head / Cap Stick
Mouth Stick
The mouth stick is generally more effective for older people. Rarely have I had any clients under 10 years old that wanted to use the mouth stick. They generally found it uncomfortable (small mouths) and it caused them to drool. (Like being at the dentist, without the suction device).
You also mention that your son is very oral with a strong bite - I don't know if that means he is "oral-seeking" (like to chew on things), or if you mean he is talkative and has a strong bite. If he likes to chew on things, the mouth stick may not be the best choice as it could wear down his teeth, and he might chew the rubber ending off over time.
On the other hand, the cap stick is generally preferred by the younger crowd, even though it is not as accurate. It tends to have more of a novelty feel - like a carnival game. it's easier to have competitions with parents and siblings, as it's easier to trade a cap stick than a mouth stick.
You'll be amazed at how quickly someone with adequate head control can adapt to a cap stick.
Another very similar product is a sturdy "helmet pointer". These tend to stay on better since they have a strap, and the rigidness of the helment helps with control.
Helmet / Head Pointer
All of these products range in price from $22 to $75, so you may want to try more than one cap, and eventually graduate to trying the mouth stick with proper guidance from an Occupational or Speech Therapist as your son gets older.
I hope that helps!
Click here to see all of Rehabmart's Mouth Sticks and Head Pointers
