Oral muscles are integral to both speech and swallowing functions. Loss of skeletal muscle among the elderly is common. They hence encounter problems in daily communication and eating. The good news is, oral muscle weakness is preventable and reversible. Oral muscle strength and coordination can be improved by oral movement training – much like exercising biceps and abs. Speech therapists conventionally prescribe oral exercises to patients, yet compliance and motivation levels among patients have not been ideal. Elderly people often forget how and when to exercise, which hampers treatment outcomes.

The solutionTo boost motivation and adherence, the team has developed a phone app “Oral Easy”, containing videos illustrating the lips and tongue performing training modules of different difficulties and training intensities. A notification function reminds patients to exercise, while the build-in feedback system allows clinicians and patients to keep track of the progress of the oral exercise.

Better motivated and guided by the app, the elderly shows improvement in their oral muscle strength, thus their swallowing ability and speech clarity. Speech therapists are supported by the software to know when the patients need help, as well as readily adjust training intensity and duration that can well suit the needs of each patient.

– Elderly people with oral muscle weakness

2018

Active Ageing, Healthcare, MedTech