Occupational Forensics

An occupational therapist can obtain a vast amount of clinical information following an examination of the head and neck as well as assessing facial motor control. Since the muscles of mastication and are all innervated by the fifth cranial nerve [trigeminal], any disturbance in this nerve will result in sensory and motor deficits (Fehrenbach & Herring, 2007). An examination of the head, neck, and motor control can offer critical information regarding sensory deficits (taste, eyesight, smelling), high or low tone, tongue lateralization and retraction to move a bolus of food around, deglutition (aspiration or slight aspiration), and mastication efficiency in regards to how the mandible moves.
2. Poor tongue control or movement contributes