Sweet Routine

Year: 2024
Final Project, HIT

Daily Practice Candies for Oral motor recovery, for Individuals with swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia).

Designed to support patients in maintaining a daily rehabilitation routine at home, encouraging consistent practice through an easy-to-integrate approach.

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Background

10% of the global population experiences difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), in varying degrees of severity.

Dysphagia is especially common after strokes, surgeries, accidents, neurological conditions, and among older adults.

This physical condition has far-reaching emotional and social impacts, often leading to reduced self-confidence and isolation.

In many cases, dysphagia can be rehabilitated with speech therapy, where a therapist tailors exercises to strengthen the affected muscles and areas, using various tools and aids.

Concept

I explored different solutions through two strategies:

Proof of Concept

Initial active sessions
Together with therapists and patients, we tried out various types of off the shelf candies, to explore their potential therapeutic value.

The outcome :)
The concept appears suitable for a broad patient audience.
Identification of valuable attributes in terms of shape, texture, and taste.

is candy brand offering a precise solution for common therapeutic needs, tailored to patients with different abilities.
Let's take a closer look at the solution.

Orange is designed for people with weakened lip muscles or reduced lip sensation.

Weak lips make it hard to eat with a closed mouth, and with reduced sensation, it’s difficult to feel if food or drink is spilling.

It is a firm candy on a stick that strengthens lip muscles and trains them to close properly.

Its texture moves across the lips, adding a layer of sensory stimulation to help restore sensation.

Flavor also plays a key role in sensory stimulation; sweetness triggers a strong response from the mouth muscles, encouraging movement. Orange comes in three sweet flavors.

fruit mix

apricot

cantaloupe

mango

Red is designed for individuals with reduced sensation in the tongue and mouth, helping them safely reconnect with oral sensations and movements.

It is a firm candy on a stick offers control, allowing patients to navigate it in the mouth. Its shape enables gentle or deeper placement, stimulating the swallowing reflex, while rotation adds sensory activation

Red has a sweet-tart berry flavor. Sour flavors stimulate the mouth strongly, making them especially beneficial for rehabilitation.

Wild fruit mix

mulberry

cranberry

raspberry

Green is designed for patients with limited tongue mobility, helping restore its range of motion.

The initial size and structure encourage extensive movement, as each ring has a thin layer in the center for the tongue to melt and navigate through, promoting both broad and precise motions.

Green is best suited for patients with good tongue control, offering mild, refreshing flavors that avoid excessive salivation or sensory overload, allowing focus on the challenging movements.

fresh

herbal

tea

apple

mint

Yellow is designed for patients in the final stages of recovery.

While their chewing and swallowing mechanics are intact, their tongue muscles still need endurance for a full meal.

Yellow strengthens these muscles with a sticky, textured gummy filled with thick gel. The stickiness adds resistance and friction against the tongue and palate.

It comes in sour flavors, which stimulate greater saliva production. This is the most challenging candy in the series.

sour fruit mix

citrus

passion fruit

grapefruit

Naturally-sourced ingredients

Sugar free

"If I had this during my rehabilitation, it would have completely changed the experience"

feedback from past patient.

WhatsApp Image 2024-11-10 at 00.53.44_9efe0c8c.jpg

Feedback from a speech therapist

The Identified Problem

To fully and quickly recover, patients must perform rehabilitation exercises intensively and daily.

However

conversations with patients reveal that they struggle with, or avoid using, medical devices in their daily routine due to difficulties, pain, and embarrassment.

1 enhancing existing devices