Ormo - Joystick for the Tongue

Ne işe yarar

Ormo is an innovative device that playfully trains oral motor skills. It helps speech-impaired children and adults overcome speech and swallowing deficits by strengthening the tongue, lips, and jaw muscles.

İlham kaynağın

The idea for Ormo stemmed from observing that many speech therapy tools often lack the interactivity needed to keep patients motivated over time. Particularly for children and adults with speech and swallowing disorders, traditional exercises can be monotonous and unengaging. Ormo combines play with therapy to make oral motor training more enjoyable while enhancing therapeutic outcomes. The inspiration came from the desire to create an effective and fun solution that supports the rehabilitation process.

Nasıl Çalışıyor

With Ormo, oral motor training becomes an engaging experience. By moving a stick with the tongue, both the tongue muscles and the lips are stimulated through pressure movements. An additional suction and pressure mechanism activates the muscles needed for facial expressions, swallowing, and speaking. The accompanying app allows users to choose from various exercises and games that specifically target the tongue, lips, jaw, and facial muscles. The gamified approach keeps the training motivating and exciting. Progress is tracked in real-time, providing users with clear feedback on their development. The device offers adjustable resistance and silicone attachments in different sizes and hardness levels to accommodate various mouth shapes and difficulty levels. Ormo combines therapy, technology, and fun to provide effective and motivating training.

Tasarım süreci

I discussed with a speech therapist the key tongue movements and positions to be trained with Ormo. A particular focus was placed on the resting position of the tongue, which for a healthy tongue should rest just behind the upper front teeth on the palate. This position is targeted with Ormo to strengthen the tongue muscles and support unconscious swallowing at night. Since ergonomics in the mouth are perceived differently, around 50 models were created to develop the perfect fit. The tongue's mobility, as well as pressure on the lips and teeth, were also taken into account. Ormo was designed to be easy to use in all directions, allowing for natural handling of the tongue, lips, and jaw. The device is neither too big nor too small, ensuring a perfect balance between comfort and function. Various silicone attachments with different hardness levels adapt the training to different mouth shapes and difficulty levels. The prototype was developed with Arduino to enable initial tests for tongue-based control. An accompanying app will track progress and allow for individualized training adjustments.

Nasıl bir farkı var

Ormo stands out from other products by combining therapy and play. During my visit to a speech therapy practice in Kiel, I learned that motivation often fades during muscle-strengthening exercises. This inspired me to develop a product that boosts motivation through playful elements. Ormo combines gamified training with customizable silicone attachments and resistance, considering different mouth shapes and difficulty levels. It not only trains the tongue muscles but also stimulates the lips, jaw, and facial muscles through pressure and suction movements. The device adapts to the ergonomics of the mouth and supports natural movements. With the app, users can track their progress, making the learning process motivating and engaging. This combination of customization, flexibility, and playfulness makes Ormo unique and effective.

Gelecek planları

My goal is to establish Ormo as a permanent part of speech therapy. Conversations with a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and a dentist have shown great potential. I hope Ormo will help people improve their oral motor skills playfully. Additionally, I see potential applications for people with limited arm function, such as controlling computers, to enhance their quality of life and provide more independence. In the long run, Ormo should become a versatile tool for various impairments.

Ödüller

Ormo was awarded the Arthur Petersen Prize 2023 in the field of industrial design and won first place in the Mia Seeger Prize 2024. In addition, the patent application process is currently underway.