Testing the efficiency of the swallow and bite.
What can your smile do for you?
Testing the efficiency of the swallow and bite.
About The SWITCH Test
The POWER of connection
The SWITCH Assessment is an acronym for Strength With Integration of Trigeminal and Cranial Harmony.
Neurological signals originating from the swallow and the bite affect the postural control of the body's musculoskeletal system through simple, yet sophisticated neural circuits
The SWITCH Assessment has been designed to not only educate the on the level of function and resilience of the patient, but also to guide treatment sequencing and decisions.
For Patients
The SWITCH Test allows the patient's own body to show whether or not their swallow and/or bite are supporting them through everyday function.
For Providers
Simple clinical assessments allow the provider team to assess the patient's level of function and resilience in their efforts to support comprehensive and efficient treatment options for thier patients.
The power of the smile
Understanding and optimizing the brain-body connection
The SWITCH Test allows healthcare providers to perform reliable and repeatable assessments for their patients.
What if you could perform a simple test to assess a complex
Is the power off or on?
Anyone who has ever had an electrical outage knows the inconvenience of not having enough power to turn the lights on.
A similar concept applies to the human body.
Without an apppreciation for or understanding of the neural circuits that support swallowing, chewing and sleep, the healthcare profession is "in the dark".
Comprehensive Connections
The Cranial Nerve System
Imagine the 12 cranial nerves of the brainstem as the breaker box that regulates electricity to your home.
If there is a problem with the breaker, you will not have power to the lightbulbs or appliances that need electicity to work.
If the patient has a problem with their cranial nerves (especially the nerves that supply the tongue), the patient will have swallowing and breathing challenges.
Therapies designed to tuen the power back on are called Oral Neuromyofunctional Therapies and are an important part of the Neurofunctional Dental Medicine approach to care.
The Autonomic Nervous System
There is much more to understand related to human function than what can be easily measured or seen. Tongue and breathing function are controlled by the brain and the patient's ability to regulate the balance between rest and digest and flight or fight.
The Terrific Trigeminal Nerve
DId you know that the emerging literature points to the functino of the trigeminal nerve is sleep dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimers) as well as physical/athletic performance?
The Primitive Reflex System
Assessment is importat to understand not only oral function, but also behavioural challenges and compensations.
Retained Primitive Reflexes
The influence of the retained startle reflex (Moro) on fascial restrictions affecting tongue mobility (often misdiagnosed as a tongue tie)
The brain-body connection
Vestibulospinal Pathways