Ora-Light |
Clinical Background
 Jack Light DDS, MSD, a maxillofacial prosthodontist who has treated patients with oral motor deficits resulting in speech and swallowing disorders for the past 30 years, invented the Oral Motor Exercise System.
Working with speech-language pathologists, he has incorporated clinical experiences and observational data to design an oral motor exercise system to strengthen the oral musculature for the improvement in speech and swallowing. The Ora-Light system consists of oral prosthetic treatment tools. These hand held tools have forms and texture incorporated to provide tactile propriocepture feedback for sensory-motor stimulation to improve the lips, front tongue and back tongue therapy. The system also exercises the musculature of the cheeks, soft palate, and pharynx. The goal of the oral motor exercise system using a physiotherpeutic exercise protocol is to strengthen the underlying musculature and neuromotor coordination and competency for speech and swallowing. The Ora-Light Exercise System and regime enables the patient to carry out consistent and repetitive exercises (drills). Ora-Light should be introduced in clinical treatment sessions, and enables the therapy regime to continue in the patient's home. Using the Ora-Light system will help to provide repetition of the corrected pattern and achieve automatic execution of the skilled task. With each oral motor problem and diagnosis, Ora-Light can be used according to the specific needs of the patient. Although a suggested exercise protocol is provided with the Ora-Light system, the speech language pathologist can prescribe a customized exercise regime for each patient. Clinical References
Ora-Light Tools are Real Tools for Therapists and Their PatientsThe following papers will provide useful background information on the concepts of oral motor exercise techniques with oral motor exercise tools. Prosthetic Functional Therapy: A New Method for Rehabilitation of the Orally Handicapped Patient. Jack Light, DDS, MSD, MPH. Archives Otolaryngology, Vol. 104, August 1978, pages 442-445 A Review of Oral and Oropharyngeal Prosthesis to Facilitate Speech and Swallowing. Jack Light, DDS, MSD, MPH. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Vol. 4, No. 3, pages 15-21, August 1995. Functional Assessment Testing for Maxillofacial Prosthesis. Jack Light, DDS, MSD, MPH. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Vol. 77, No. 4, pages 358-393, April 1997. The Dental Prosthesis Used for Intra-Oral Muscle Therapy in the Rehabilitation of the Stroke Patient. Jack Light, DDS, MSD, MPH. Sandra Beer Edelman, DDS, Augusta Alba, MD. New York State Dental Journal, pages 22-27, May 2001. Sample Protocol
A 15-20 minute exercise program has been designed with the Ora-Light System. It uses resistant movements as well as combinations of vowel-consonant-vowel configurations for the bilabial, lingua-alveola, and lingua-velar exercises for the successive approximation movements. Treatment Protocol The Speech Language Pathologist can modify the protocol to meet the specific needs of the individual. Please note that the therapy time and length of rehabilitation will differ dependent on the severity of the oral motor deficit. Use at Home Using Ora-Light oral motor exercise tools in the patients home environment and encouraging and motivating the patient is a vital element in the success of rehabilitation. Guidelines To help the Speech Language Pathologist, we have designed clear, easy to follow exercise guidelines. Baseline exercises are highlighted to indicate the level of the patient’s oral motor ability. Complete Kit We have included an easy to read user manual and interactive audio CD for patients. This CD allows the patient to listen and repeat the exercises throughout the program in the comfort of their own home.
Diagrams and Pictures
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