If you suffer from dysphagia, you may be advised to perform "oral motor exercises," which are essentially physical therapy for the muscles involved in swallowing, especially the tongue. These exercises are often recommended for patients with various causes of dysphagia, including head and neck cancer, stroke patients, and even Parkinson's disease patients. Speech-language pathologists and physicians sometimes recommend about a dozen different oral motor exercises to their patients. Remember, these exercises should only be performed with the advice and direct guidance of your healthcare professional.
The big question every patient wants to know is: Will my swallowing get better if I do these exercises as recommended? Presumably, if a health care professional recommends treatment, it is because it will lead to improvement. But is there evidence that these exercises work?
The short answer is, no, there is not much available evidence to strongly support the claim that oral motor exercises lead to improved swallowing. However, the lack of evidence does not mean that there is no benefit to performing these exercises. It just means that we don't have the available evidence to show if there is a benefit. Therefore, before you close this page and abandon your oral motor exercise program, please consider the following.
Speech-language pathologists must adhere to the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association's (ASHA) Code of Ethics, which includes providing the highest quality of service to patients, beginning in the 1990s and now including "evidence-based practice. "ASHA defines evidence-based practice as the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise and patient values.
Speech-language pathologists recommend oral-motor exercises based on the best available evidence to support such treatment and, perhaps to a greater extent, on their clinical expertise. Experienced speech-language pathologists may have a good understanding of when oral-motor exercise may be beneficial for patients with certain types of dysphagia, based on previous patients with whom they or their colleagues have worked. Clinical expertise is part of evidence-based practice and should not be underestimated.
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Yes, there are some studies that support the use of oral motor exercise, but few efficacy studies have been conducted, which means that there is not enough high-quality evidence to make claims one way or another about how and to what extent these exercises should be incorporated into the treatment of dysphagia.
Disclaimer: Oral motor exercises are not appropriate for all patients with swallowing difficulties. Oral motor exercises and all dysphagia treatment programs should be used under the explicit guidance and advice of your physician or speech-language pathologist. It is necessary to consult with your healthcare provider before using these exercises. If you experience pain or unusual symptoms while performing any of these exercises, stop the exercises immediately and consult with your provider before further use.
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