Development of an oral function improvement program focused on tongue movements

本研究旨在发展一套以舌头运动为重点的口腔功能改善计划。本研究首先编制了一个不需要特殊仪器就能评价舌运动的简易筛选量表，并对该量表进行了信度和效度检验。其次，在文献回顾及专家小组讨论的基础上，初步制定口腔功能改善方案。该方案包括几种方法，即1）放松身体和口腔，2）按摩嘴唇和脸颊，3）按摩舌头和4）舌头练习。结合这些方法，为每个参与者创建了一个量身定制的程序。在对5例老年人进行初步研究后，对该程序进行了修改，并对23例舌功能低下的老年人进行了试用。结果，在舌头运动和吞咽能力方面，口腔功能得到了显著改善。

This study aimed to develop an oral function improvement program focused on tongue movements. At the first, a simplified screening scale to evaluate tongue movements without special equipments was developed and the reliability and validity were examined. Secondly, an initial oral function improvement program was developed based on the literature reviews and expert panels. This program contained of several methods, namely 1) relaxation of body and mouth, 2) massage of lips and cheeks, 3) massage of tongue and 4) tongue exercise. Combining these methods, a tailor made program was created for each participants. After a pilot study of 5 cases, the program was revised and tried on 23 aged people whose tongue function were judged as low. As a result, oral function was improved significantly in terms of tongue movements and swallowing ability.