Problems with chewing and swallowing?

Benjamin Franklin wrote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Much of my life living with Kennedy’s Disease is focused on preventing or slowing the inevitable.

One area of the body that becomes particularly troublesome for those of us with Kennedy's Disease is often the most neglected. As the disease progresses, the face and throat muscles also weaken. Many of us begin to experience problems with swallowing, choking, dry-drowning (Laryngospasm), facial muscle wasting, jaw weakness, etc.

Some exercises will help maintain the throat, tongue and facial muscles and possibly delay or moderate several of the issues mentioned above. I practice many of these exercises several times a week (shown with an asterisk). They do help — especially with the chewing and choking issues. Try these exercises for a month and see if they help.

Stick Out Your Tongue: * Bite down lightly on your tongue to hold it in position. Swallow ten times (or more) while holding the tongue between the teeth. Perform this exercise every day. At first, you might find this exercise extremely difficult. Over time, it will become easier. [Strengthens throat muscles]

Large Smile:* Make the sound "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" as you stretch your mouth muscles into a large smile. You should be able to feel throat muscles vibrate (stretch). Perform this routine ten times. [Strengthens throat and facial muscles]

Pucker your Lips:* Make the sound "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" as you pucker you lips. You should once again be able to feel your throat muscles vibrate (stretch). Perform this routine ten times. [Strengthens throat and facial muscles]

Stretch the Tongue: Open your mouth and stick out your tongue as far as possible. Be sure your tongue comes straight out of your mouth and does not go off the side. Hold, relax and repeat several times. Work toward sticking your tongue out farther each day, but still pointing straight ahead. Perform this routine ten times. [Strengthens tongue muscles]

Tongue Darts:* Stick your tongue out as far as you can and pull it back fast. Repeat ten times as quickly as you can. [Strengthens tongue muscles]

Circle the Mouth: Swab all your teeth and gums with your tongue. First, the inside of your teeth and then the outside. Perform this routine ten times. [Strengthens tongue muscles]

Vibrate the throat:* Say Mah-Mah-Mah-Mah as quickly as you can. Be sure there is an M and an AH each time. Then say Lah-Lah-Lah-Lah as quickly and accurately as you can. Perform this routine five times alternating between the sounds. [Strengthens throat muscles]

Hard Coughs:* Cough hard several times each day. [Strengthens the lungs and throat muscles]

Clear the Throat:* Clear the throat (um-hum) several times a day. [Strengthens throat muscles]

Big Yawn:* Take a deep breath and open the mouth wide as if you were yawning. With the mouth open wide, move the jaw from side to side. Perform this routine ten times. [Strengthens facial muscles]

Jaw Pushes:* Place the palm of your hand against the bottom of your jaw. While pressing up with your palm, open your jaw as far as possible. Relax the jaw. Perform this routine ten times. [Strengthens jaw muscles]

If you have other face, tongue, jaw and throat exercises that work for you, please let me know.