Patent ID: 11071310

Abstract:
A collection of therapies that are useful in a speech pathology setting, the common denominator of the therapies is that they each make use of chewing gum. Chewing gum administered to a patient can be used to treat swallowing disorders and oral motor impairments. In a major aspect of the invention, a series or kit of chewing gums of varying hardness can be used to treat mastication disorders. The gum exercise program will use the varying gum hardnesses as exercises for the muscles of the mouth, mastication, oral motor, sensory/stimulation, and swallowing therapeutic interventions. The instant therapies are more functional than existing dysphagia and oral motor interventions because they are similar to masticating real food by eliciting saliva production and taste buds from the gustatory response of the lemon and sour flavors. In addition, for sensory/stimulation exercises, the varying degrees of gum hardness, along with the lemon and other flavors, provide sensory feedback.