Can the FaceFormer® be used with passive patients (e.g. vegetative coma)?
Question
As part of my work as a speech therapist, I often look after coma patients with hypertonic orofacial muscles who tend to bite their lower lip. These patients are often provided with bite splints by relatives, but this does not seem very effective to me. In my search for more effective methods, I have now come across the FaceFormer.
But now to my questions: Can the FaceFormer also be used to eutonize the muscles of passive people who are unable to cooperate? What would such an application look like and at what intervals would it make sense?
Answer
We support your observation that bite splints are not very effective for coma patients. On the contrary: they provoke biting and are not very durable. They are also ineffective against lip biting. The FaceFormer shields the oral cavity in the vestibule from the outer lips. This alone prevents biting injuries. However, the negative pressure in the oral cavity and the adjustment of nasal breathing also favors impulses on muscle chain functions, which are of great importance for coordinated movements in the mouth/throat area, e.g. tongue movements, swallowing, etc.
It is important that the FaceFormer is only used under supervision, in the presence of the practitioner or nurse. The exercises are carried out as follows: The FaceFormer is placed in the vestibule of the mouth, in front of the teeth, behind the lips. The lips are pressed against the lip wedge as evenly as possible. The patient is supported by the practitioner by pressing the lips against the lip wedge on both sides with the middle finger, index finger and thumb. This position is held for at least 10 nasal breaths. The practitioner then releases her assistance and determines whether the lip position is held independently. If not, this procedure is repeated again and again. The therapist exerts a slight pull on the lip wedge, alternating in different directions, of course only strong enough so that the FaceFormer’s mouth shield is not pulled out. These exercises should be repeated for a total of approx. 30 minutes. This gradually stabilizes vital skills such as swallowing and breathing. In addition, the bite reflex is reduced.