Page 17 - Polite-yawning_manual for SLPs
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NO FLUID MOVEMENTS IN THE MANOMETERIf the movement of the tongue is not sufficiently large or not powerful enough, there also will be no movement of the fluid in the manometer. With every ‘polite yawn’, the tongue must move downwards away from the palate, making it a kind of pumping movement.Moreover, the execution of the ‘polite yawn’ should be done in a relaxed manner, because otherwise the soft palate also might be tense, which would block the nasal passage. Besides, the laryngectomee probably will not use the technique when it is hyperkinetic, because that will make it uncomfortable.Exercising in front of a mirror can be helpful, as is thinking the movement is a kind of a chewing movement.In cases like this, one also should consider the possibility there is a conductive olfaction problem. In case of doubt, use a larynx-bypass.
