Tongue Exercises for Snoring & Sleep Apnea?

If you've ever researched the internet for snoring cures, you'll definitely come accross programs or exercises that promote tongue exercises for snorers. More recently, there have been research stuies supporting their effectiveness. Please join me as I interview Ms. Janet Bennett, a speech pathologist that offers a unique tongue exercise program that can help you snore less and sleep better.

In this month's Expert Interview, Ms. Bennett will reveal:

- what tongue exercises can and can't do
– how tongue exercises can help your snoring
– recent studies on the effectiveness of tongue exercises
– how you can breathe better and sleep better just by exercising your tongue – and much, much more…

Topic: "Tongue Exercises for Snoring and Sleep Apnea"
Date: May 25th, 2010
Time: 8PM Eastern / 5PM Pacific

Click here to register for this free live event: http://doctorstevenpark.com/teleseminar-registration

Hi All

My take on this is that it needs to be kept current, at least untill 26th May 2010.

cheers

Mars

I listened to this presentation tonight, by Janet Bennett, a speech pathologist with 34 years experience. Here are some of my notes.

She said this was an accidental discovery--she was working with a 13 year boy, to teach him to swallow so his tongue didn't put pressure on the teeth, a condition call tongue thrust. His mother told her that that he also stopped snoring.

She then described a study she did with 86 people who snored, and had other sleep problems such as restless leg syndrome, GERD, gasping for air. 75 of then were not on cpap. After 8 months of lessons and exercises, 94% stopped snoring.

Janet and Dr. Fergossi, Univeristy of Arizona have applied for a grant from NIH to study this more.

She described 3 exercises which strengthen the genioglossus muscle of the tongue. It takes 5 minutes, 2 times a day.

1. place tongue on soft palate just behind teeth. To find that spot, say door, and it's the spot that your tongue touches. Leave your tongue there for 5 minutes, if you need to swallow, do so.

2. place tip of tongue on that same spot, and make that clicking noise when you "tsk, tsk" someone.

3. tongue scallops mean that your tongue is too wide, so is running into the bottom teeth. Stroke the sides of the tongue with her special tongue stick, to help the tongue get skinnier.

Some comments that Dr. Park made: a scalloped tongue is 80% predictor of sleep apnea. Many people have small jaws, but normal size tongues. When conditions like reflux, cough, throat clearing, cause the soft tissue to be inflamed, then the tongue is even larger. With treatment, he has seen ridges get better and inflammation is less. He also mentioned the recent study from Brazil, Effects of Oropharyngeal Exercises on Patients with Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. He also said that this is not meant to replace treatment of sleep apnea, but will compliment it.

http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/reprint/179/10/962

Janet's website is http://www.Iwanttosleep.com, where she has her book, dvd, and tongue stick for sale. She is offering a 20% discount, coupon code is Park.

I'm not totally convinced, but it is very interesting to think about. As in any physical therapy program, I think it would require a strong commitment and consistent and sustained practice, to see results.

Did anyone else listen to this? What did you think?

In case you missed it, here's the download link for the mp3 recording:http://doctorstevenpark.com/tongue-exer ... et-bennett

KatieW, thanks very much for your notes , very good work and very kind too.