Jaw Rehabilitation Programme

An innovative solution for oral motor treatment

The Jaw Rehabilitation Program is a patented step-by-step series of goals and objectives designed to develop biting and chewing skills. The Jaw Rehabilitation Program offers a sequenced progression of treatment exercises to initiate and strengthen mandibular function needed for successful mastication skill.   

Progress can be easily documented by recording the last short-term objective achieved by the patient at each session.

The Jaw Rehabilitation Program is appropriate for individuals with the following diagnoses:
  • Autism
  • Cleft Palate
  • Downs Syndrome
  • Dyspraxia
  • Neuromuscular Disorders

Patient Uses

The Jaw Rehabilitation Program is used effectively with patients:

  • who are delayed in developing oral motor function for biting and chewing skills
  • to co-ordinate vertical movement of the jaw with placement of the bolus laterally
  • to develop symmetrical and repetitive mandibular function for mastication of firmer textures
  • to help transition from enteral feeding to oral feeding

Seven Levels of Treatment

The Jaw Rehabilitation Program is comprised of seven levels of treatment. Two long-term goals are specified for each level. Each long-term goal is subdivided into several short-term objectives which lead to the successful outcome of the long-term goal.    

Levels I & II

Target development of prerequisite sensory and motor skills needed for biting and chewing behaviour.

Levels III & IV

Target the development of initial motor patterns of repetitive vertical jaw movement gradually building on these skills toward higher level abilities.

Levels V, VI & VII

Target development of more mature patterns of extended rhythmical and repetitive excursion/closure biting motion.     

Assessment Forms

The Jaw Assessment Form offers a thorough guide on which to document a patient’s pre- and post-treatment level of function. The components of the Jaw Assessment form include:     

  • Structural integrity
  • Range of motion
  • Dentition/alignment
  • Functional movement
  • Quality of motion
  • Food texture

A step-by-step series of oral motor treatment goals and objectives

Goals:     

  • Develop adequate mastication, safe swallowing of a bolus
  • Prevent danger of choking, blockage of the airway
  • Develop oral motor function for improved oral hygiene i.e. management of saliva

Purpose:

  • Initiate pre-biting mandibular movement in response to tactile stimulation
  • Develop repetitive jaw excursion and closure skill
  • Refine rhythmical vertical biting motion

When Used:

  • Transition patients from gastrostomy feeding tube to oral feeding
  • Transition patients from pureed diet to soft mechanical bolus
  • Teach patients to initiate up/down pattern of jaw movement (pre-biting skill)
  • Increase number of up/down cycles of jaw motion
  • Strengthen inadequate muscle function for mastication

Each Jaw Rehabilitation Program Kit includes:     

  • Jaw Rehabilitation Program Manual
  • 8 Chewy Tubes (3 Yellow, stem size 9.5mm, 3 Red, stem size 12.7mm, 1 Green knobby, stem size 15mm, and 1 P and Q pack)
  • 25 Jaw Assessment Forms