Labial closure
Address documented motor needs related to oral containment, saliva control, cup drinking, or other functional lip-seal tasks.
Adjunctive oral-motor rehabilitation
A structured resistance option for appropriately selected SLP patients.
ISO Metrik may support selected facial and oral-motor goals when use is within professional competence and scope, based on individualized evaluation, and connected to documented communication or swallowing needs.
Diagnosis alone does not establish that resistance is appropriate. The SLP identifies the functional motor target through assessment.
AssessIdentify the functional complaint
SelectDetermine candidacy and safety
TreatConnect resistance to the goal
TransferMeasure function and carryover
Clinical fit
Start with function, then determine whether resistance fits.
The SLP first identifies the communication, oral-motor, or swallowing-related complaint; completes the appropriate assessment; establishes a measurable motor goal; and determines whether resistance is safe, relevant, and likely to support functional transfer.
Potential targets
Support documented motor-based goals.
The device is an adjunct to skilled care—not a diagnosis, a stand-alone swallowing evaluation, or a replacement for established SLP interventions.
Speech precision
Address labial weakness or reduced control affecting bilabial or labiodental production within an appropriate motor-speech plan.
Oral-phase control
Consider resistance only when documented oral-motor impairment affects containment or manipulation and the task is clinically safe.
Facial expression
Connect movement and symmetry goals with nonverbal communication, social participation, and confidence.
Endurance and consistency
Monitor lip seal, movement quality, and motor accuracy when performance declines with fatigue.
Home-program carryover
Provide a provider-directed home program only after safe, accurate technique and appropriate stopping rules are established.
Scope and competence
Technology does not expand professional scope.
Use must remain consistent with the SLP’s education, training, experience, state law, facility policy, and the individual plan of care. When dysphagia is suspected, airway safety and the appropriate swallowing assessment come first.
- Not a treatment for language impairment
- Not a substitute for motor-speech therapy
- Not a stand-alone dysphagia evaluation
- Do not use with food or liquid unless a qualified SLP determines it is safe and appropriate
- Do not progress resistance without clinical reassessment
Clinical reasoning
Start with function, then determine whether resistance fits.
A diagnosis alone does not establish candidacy for a resistance-based activity.
- 1
Identify the functional complaint
Clarify what the patient cannot do, how consistently the problem occurs, and why it matters to participation.
- 2
Complete the appropriate assessment
Evaluate the relevant facial, oral-motor, motor-speech, feeding, or swallowing domain within professional scope.
- 3
Determine candidacy
Consider diagnosis, recovery stage, tissue and dental status, cognition, pain, fatigue, aspiration risk, and the need for medical or instrumental assessment.
- 4
Establish a measurable goal
Connect the selected motor target with a functional communication, oral containment, or swallowing-related outcome.
- 5
Monitor transfer and safety
Record performance, compensations, symptoms, fatigue, functional transfer, and the rationale for continuing, modifying, or stopping.
Interprofessional coordination
Define each professional role clearly.
Overlapping facial and oral-motor needs require coordinated responsibility rather than assumed scope.
Speech-language pathologist
Evaluates communication, motor-speech, feeding, swallowing, and relevant oral-motor function within individual competence and scope.
Physical therapist
Addresses movement, strength, neuromuscular re-education, and functional rehabilitation within PT scope and the coordinated plan.
Medical specialists
Provide diagnosis, medical management, clearance, precautions, and specialty input when neurologic, facial nerve, surgical, or systemic issues are present.
Dental professionals
Address dentition, occlusion, oral tissue, jaw status, and dental or oral-maxillofacial factors affecting candidacy and use.
SLP documentation
Connect the device to the skilled service.
Documentation should identify why the activity is clinically relevant, how it was delivered, what the patient did, and whether it transferred to function.
Assessment findings
Record the relevant impairment, activity limitation, participation impact, precautions, and candidacy decision.
Functional goal
State the measurable communication, oral containment, or swallowing-related result the motor activity is intended to support.
Treatment details
Record setup, resistance, repetitions, holds, rest, cues, compensations, assistance, and the patient’s response.
Swallowing safety
Document clinical and instrumental considerations, food or liquid restrictions, medical coordination, and stopping criteria when applicable.
Transfer
Describe whether change carries into speech, expression, oral containment, eating, drinking, or another functional task.
Plan
Explain the rationale for continued skilled care, modification, home practice, referral, reassessment, or discontinuation.
Next step
Evaluate whether ISO Metrik fits your SLP practice.
Discuss scope, candidacy, oral-motor goals, swallowing safeguards, documentation, provider training, and implementation support.