[Dysphagia] Yawning

[SuzMorris at aol.com (SuzMorris@aol.com)]

There are, of course, neurological possibilities.   But there may be another 
one as well. My initial impression was that he may have elicited some gagging 
responses when he cleaned his tongue with the toothbrush.   This would have 
been accompanied by a retraction and elevation of the back of the tongue.   This 
movement pattern would prevent air from moving freely in and out of the 
pharyngeal airway.    It is possible that when he yawns there is a reminder of this 
  noxious tongue cleaning pattern because with yawning there is also some 
retraction of the tongue combined with a wide-open mouth.   However during 
yawning there is typically a depression of the back of the tongue rather than an 
elevation.    If this possible scenario applies, the restriction of his breath on 
exhalation could be related to a sustained elevation and retraction of the b
ack of the tongue in a defensive and protective maneuver used during gagging.


Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D.
New Visions
1124 Roberts Mountain Rd.
Faber, VA 22938
(434) 361-2285 ext. 5
www.new-vis.com


In a message dated 10/13/04 12:27:09 AM, TIAFAMILY@aol.com writes:

> A man who volunteers at our hospital approached me with a question and I?
> told him that I would pose it to our group.? Approximately 9-10 mos. ago,? 
> he
> began "scraping" his tongue with the toothbrush per the instruction of? his
> dental hygienist.? He reports that since that time, when he? yawns, he is 
> unable to
> exhale air effectively.? He says that his? yawn is stifled.? He is an
> otherwise healthy 60 y/o man? with no other medical conditions except high
> cholesterol and seasonal? allergies.? His complaint re: the yawn is not 
> restricted to
> the allergy? seasons.? Anyone have any ideas?
> 
> Thanks,
> Susan
>