What Is Orofacial Fatigue and How Does It Affect Function for Swallowing and Speech?

Nancy Pearl Solomon

doi:10.1055/s-2006-955117

Seminars in Speech and Language, Table of Contents

Semin Speech Lang 2006; 27(4): 268-282
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-955117

What Is Orofacial Fatigue and How Does It Affect Function for Swallowing and Speech?

Nancy Pearl Solomon¹

¹Research Speech-Language Pathologist, Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

Abstract

Speech-language pathologists are likely to encounter patients who report symptoms of fatigue, but there are few clinical procedures to assess this phenomenon. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine whether fatigue contributes to a patient's dysphagia or dysarthria. This article reviews orofacial muscles, including the muscles of the tongue, lips, and cheeks, highlighting in particular their role in swallowing and speaking. It provides definitions of fatigue and describes assessment procedures. The author's research has focused on assessing fatigue, especially of the tongue, and elucidating the effects of exercising the tongue on speech and nonspeech tasks. Most of this work involves people who have Parkinson's disease and neurologically normal adults; results generally support heightened fatigue in Parkinson's disease. However, the effect of fatigue on functional activities remains unclear. Literature regarding the effects of orofacial fatigue on swallowing and speaking is notably sparse, but preliminary evidence indicates that these functions are rather robust.

KEYWORDS

Fatigue - endurance - effort - tongue - facial muscles

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References

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Dr.
Nancy Pearl Solomon

Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Army Audiology & Speech Center

6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20307

Email: Nancy.P.Solomon@US.ARMY.MIL