Specialist Services

Facial Oral Tract Therapy (FOTT)

What is FOTT?

FOTT is a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of disturbances in facial expression, oral movement, swallowing, breathing and voice production caused by developmental and acquired neurological conditions.  

Who may benefit from FOTT?

Anyone experiencing disturbances of facial expression, oral movement, swallowing, breathing and voice production caused by acquired neurological conditions. 

How is this achieved?

At Linden Lodge Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit, a number of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists as well as Speech and Language Therapists are trained in FOTT.

Key principles include:

• The assessment of patient and activity as a whole

  e.g. eating and drinking - taking into account the individuals posture, tone, position of carer as well as the characteristics of mealtime (noise / distractions) 

• The importance of sensation, in other words, the feedback an individual receives from a movement or activity

• The importance of therapeutic handling to facilitate appropriate muscle tone and activity. This is essential in overcoming any hypersensitive behaviour e.g. clenching of teeth / tongue thrusting