Interdisciplinary treatment of trismus: the role of the speech therapist 

Trismus is defined as the inability to open the mouth. Several conditions can cause a patient to develop trismus. Trismus is common in head and neck oncology patients and patients who have had surgery in the head and neck region, but it also occurs in other underlying conditions such as abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint (Dijkstra, 2004).

Trismus affects several important aspects of daily life associated with proper oral functioning, such as chewing, the ability to eat all consistencies, facial expressions, talking and oral hygiene (Kent, 2008). This can lead to a reduced overall quality of life.

The speech therapist has an important role (within a multidisciplinary team) in supervising the functional problems resulting from trismus. During this Atos Learning Institute webinar, Jacintha Oldenbeuving (speech therapist) and Gerben Hinte (orofacial physiotherapist) will tell you more about their multidisciplinary approach to patients with trismus at Radboud UMC. Gerben will present about the possible causes and treatments of a trismus, and Jacintha will discuss what trismus means, what risk treatments/areas are for the development of a trismus and how a trismus affects eating and drinking and speech.