Development of an oral function improvement program focused on tongue movements

这项研究的目的是开发一个以舌头运动为重点的口腔功能改善计划。首先，在没有特殊设备的情况下，建立了一种简化的舌运动筛查量表，并对其信度和效度进行了检验。其次，在文献综述和专家小组的基础上制定了初步的口腔功能改善方案。该项目包括几种方法，即1)身体和口腔放松，2)嘴唇和脸颊按摩，3)舌头按摩，4)舌头运动。结合这些方法，为每个参与者创建了一个量身定做的计划。在对5例患者进行初步研究后，对23例舌功能低下的老年人进行了修订和试用。结果，口腔功能在舌运动和吞咽能力方面均有明显改善。

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.