“the
face
is the
image
of the
soul”
-Cicero
Facial expression
is our primary form of non-verbal communication. Our face represents
us to the world and tells others what we are feeling. Being unable to
express emotions is a devastating impairment for any individual.
Facial paralysis not only limits a person’s ability to show emotion,
it can produce functional deficits, including inability to close the
eyes and difficulty eating, drinking and speaking.
Facial retraining can benefit persons with:
-
Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) and other intracranial tumors
-
Bell’s palsy
-
Traumatic injury
-
Herpes zoster (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome)
-
Congenital abnormalities
-
Cancer
-
Post-surgical conditions including anastomosis, decompression,
cross-facial nerve graft and muscle transfers
Our
Program
When it comes to
facial rehabilitation, there is no substitute for experience on the
part of the therapist. Unique to our program is the expertise of
Teresa England, PT, MPT. Teresa has treated thousands of patients
with facial disorders over the past decade. She is a member of the
prestigious House Ear Clinic Facial Nerve Paralysis Team and was
featured on the Oprah Show for her work with Mary Jo Buttafuco.
●
Read
More Here about this on the Oprah website
Our facial retraining program uses
non-invasive techniques to treat diagnosed facial paralysis.
Once a patient is referred, they undergo a detailed physical therapy
evaluation of facial function and impairments. An
intense approach of specific neuromuscular retraining, which may
include biofeedback, helps restore facial expression and function.
All work is
performed in private, personalized treatment sessions focused on the
patient’s specific goals. Patients receive a home program that relies
on self-monitoring quality and symmetry of movement. Treatment
intervals vary for each individual based on their goals, functional
abilities, proximity to England Physical Therapy and the complexity of
the intervention.
Some
patients have accompanying balance and vestibular impairments.
Symptoms may include:
imbalance, fear of
falling, dizziness, lightheadedness, vertigo, difficulty walking in
the dark or on uneven surfaces, difficulty with quick head movement or
bending over. Research supports favorable outcomes in
balance/vestibular rehabilitation for individuals that receive
individualized instruction in exercises specific to their
impairments. England Physical Therapy is equipped to skillfully
evaluate and treat these disorders as well.
How
you can begin
Individuals come to
England Physical Therapy in a variety of ways. You or a family member
can contact us and set up an appointment. Or your physician or other
health care provider can refer you. In either case, we coordinate our
care with your personal physician or other care provider. In order to
bill your insurance company, we’ll need a medical diagnosis. Please
contact us by phone at: 714.703.8477 or email us at
info@englandpt.com.
