Originally designed and used for treatment of patients with severe facial burns, Facial-Flex is now used extensively as a dynamic resistance device for strengthening the oral-motor and neck musculature. Applications include increasing oral facial motor strength, range of motion, voluntary control, timing and coordination for such impairments as dysarthria, oral apraxia, facial paresis, oral dysphagia and facial contractures caused by severe burns. Head trauma, neurogenic diseases, neurogenic events, and congenital disabilites affecting pediatric speech language development, all can contribute to the need to improve oral facial motor skills.

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Common Speech Disorders
"Help for Speech Disabilities"

"Any number of diseases and disorders can affect facial muscle control. Stroke is the most common cause of weakness of facial muscles, and is the most common cause of disability in the elderly. In children, articulation disorders involving the oral structure is the most common indication for speech therapy. Traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease and developmental diseases also can cause loss of oral-facial strength and control."

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Joseph R. Spiegel, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology
Thomas Jefferson University, Phila., PA
Copyright © 2003 Facial Concepts, Inc. All rights reserved.