Abstract
Therapeutic approach was offered at her home to a 94-year-old woman with oral dyskinesia induced by arterosclerosis and atrophy in her brain and aggravated after cerebral infarction. Her awareness was as low as Ⅲ-200 according to Japan Coma Scale. She was bedridden, failing to keep a sitting position due to lack of righting activities. Three years after cerebral infarction, therapeutic approach of a 45-min treatment session was carried out 15 times for four months. Flexor dominant spasticity of trunk was reduced, and head and neck leaned to the right were regained near the midline. Stability with mobility of hyoid and larynx pulled to the right was increased and those positions changed near the midline, too. Tongue thrusts to the right and outward was pressed and suppressed by a therapist's index and middle fingers wrapped with wet gauzes. The thrusting which occurred 23 times/min at the first assessment, suppressed after four months. As a result, taking liquid with a spout became easier, variety of food increased from three to eight, and the volume of urine stabilized. Eating time decreased from one hour to 30 or 40 min.
