ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC BIOFEEDBACKS EFFECT ON THE CONSCIOUS USE OF THE TONGUE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPOGLOSSAL FACIAL-NERVE ANASTOMOSIS - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Three patients with facial-hipoglossus anastomose were submitted to El ectromiographic Biofeedback (EMG BB) during the evaluation and trainin g of seven facial movements. During training they were asked to activa te their tongue (pushing its tip against the palate) while doing a spe cific movement. The amplitude analysis when comparing the conditions w ith (AT) and without tongue activation (WAT) shows that the conscious use of the tongue increases the activity level of the affected hemi-fa ce, unlike when it is not used. The face-tongue relationship observed in the first assessments decreased along the program, reaching levels of similar activity in the evaluated conditions. This equalization is interpreted as a control of facial mimicking without the use of the to ngue. By the end of the program patients showed EMG increase in the se ven evaluated movements and an independence between tongue and face mo vements.