- Title
- The use of myofunctional therapy and devices in speech, breathing and swallowing
- Creator
- Shortland, Hollie-Ann Lee
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2023
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) and myofunctional devices (MDs) have been used across the dental and orthodontic professions for decades. More recently, speech pathologists have utilised MDs to treat clients with communication and swallowing disorders, but there is limited evidence supporting their use. This thesis will explore (1) the current evidence for OMT and MD use by speech pathologists; (2) how, when, why and with whom speech pathologists use MDs; (3) the development of a protocol for a feasibility study using an MD for oral health and swallowing; and (4) the feasibility of utilising an MD, the MyoMuncheeTM, in an aged care population to address oral health and swallowing. A mixed methods approach was applied in this thesis to explore the use of MDs in speech pathology practice. For the first study, a quantitative systematic review of the literature was conducted to gain an understanding of the available evidence for the use of MDs and OMT by speech pathologists. The literature review was prompted by a growing body of support for OMT and MD use in the management of communication and swallowing disorders. The systematic review revealed an increase in the literature over the past decade on OMT use for speech pathology but limited studies that explore the use of MDs. The review highlighted the need for further information about the application of MDs in speech pathology clinical practice. Therefore, in the second study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with speech pathologists from around the world and analysed by quantitative content analysis to further understand speech pathologists’ use of MDs. The results identified the various devices used, variations in the way devices are used and who they are used with. MD use was often related to the expertise and experience of the speech pathologist. However, positive outcomes were reported for swallowing and oral health, with the need for further research to guide the use of MDs in speech pathology clinical practice identified. Based on information gained from the semi-structured interviews, a protocol for a feasibility study in an aged care population is presented in Chapter 5. Feasibility studies provide a way to trial procedures for new or existing treatments in a new population. These studies are used to determine whether it is appropriate to progress to a larger trial and allow for adjustments to procedures, methods, data collection and the intervention before carrying out a larger trial. The outcome of the feasibility study is presented in Chapter 6. The use of a MD in an aged care population for oral health and swallowing demonstrated positive results regarding the acceptability of the device, recruitment and retention and adherence to the intervention, suggesting it would be appropriate to consider continuing to a larger trial. There is a paucity of literature on the role of the speech pathologist in the management of oral health and swallowing disorders and using MDs to support improvements in these areas. However, there is an abundance of literature addressing the need for improvement in oral health in ageing populations, which plays an important role in the management of swallowing disorders. The papers included in the chapters of this thesis contribute to the limited literature and evidence for the use of MDs in speech pathology practice and, specifically, the use of novel approaches such as MDs in the management of oral health and swallowing disorders. The outcomes from this thesis support the need for further research that considers MD use in speech pathology clinical practice.
- Subject
- myofunctional devices; orofacial myofunctional therapy; dysphagia; swallowing; speech pathology; oral health; aged care
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1505519
- Identifier
- uon:55675
- Rights
- Copyright 2023 Hollie-Ann Lee Shortland
- Language
- eng
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 22 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |