[For Seniors] Boost Oral Function with Tongue Twisters! Recommended Picks to Try

Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra finger exercises

[Mouth Exercises While Wearing a Mask] Patakara + finger exercises have become the ultimate oral workout! 4 patterns! Also activates the brain!

Many care facilities incorporate the “Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra” oral exercises.

However, some older adults may get bored if it’s the same routine every time.

So let’s add finger movements to the usual Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra exercises.

While saying pa-ta-ka-ra out loud, clap your hands or make a “fox” hand pose and move your hands.

The key is to enjoy it.

You’ll be using both your mouth and your hands, which can be tricky at first if you’re not used to it.

But it’s fine to make mistakes.

We use both our mouths and hands when eating, right? Using your fingertips during the exercises also helps train the movements needed for meals.

Try doing Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra with added finger movements at the pace that suits the older adults.

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Nakajima Junko

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I leaned bamboo against this bamboo fence because I wanted to lean bamboo against it.

Among the many types of tongue twisters, one that is known to be especially difficult is: “Kono takegaki ni take tatekaketa no wa, take tatekaketakatta kara take tatekaketa.” Put simply, it evokes the image of bamboo being propped against a bamboo fence.

Once you understand what kind of situation it’s describing, you’ll be less likely to get confused.

That said, it’s quite a long tongue twister, so memorizing it is no easy task.

Start by reading it repeatedly to commit it to memory.

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yamamoto

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You request a yo-yo as a method to prevent becoming frail.

For those who struggle with the pronunciation of “yo,” this tongue twister might be a real hurdle: “A request for a yo-yo as a way to prevent becoming feeble.” Is someone asking for a yo-yo to prevent aging? Looking at the whole tongue twister, “yo” appears six times, and “yobo” appears four times.

Fortunately, there are no small characters (ゃゅょ), so just focus on the voiced sounds and give it a try.

Try saying it with an emphasis on the “bo.” By the way, some say yo-yos are effective for brain training.

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yamamoto

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Get hyped! High-speed patakara

Hilarious High-Speed Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra Mouth Exercise: Today’s Brain Training, Care Prevention, and Dementia Prevention

This is an exercise that encourages you to pay close attention to the speed of articulation and aim for smooth mouth movements.

Focusing on each of the syllables in the familiar “pa-ta-ka-ra,” it’s a simple activity where you repeatedly say the specified syllable in succession.

It’s easiest to follow the person standing in front, using their pronunciation as a reference and aiming for the same mouth movements and the same speed.

The comical effort of trying hard to pronounce the same word is also an important point—let’s make it fun while training the mouth’s movements.

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kappamaki

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Pata-Kara exercises: tongue twisters

Patakara Exercises: 10 Tongue Twisters — Oral Exercises for Seniors to Prevent Aspiration and Choking

Here’s a method that adds the sounds “pa-ta-ka-ra” to tongue twisters so you can practice while having fun.

Start slowly, and as you get used to it, speed up—this way, people of various abilities can enjoy participating.

This exercise can help with digestion of food, prevent aspiration pneumonia, promote sterilization and disinfection through saliva secretion, and help prevent infections.

In addition, since a decline in oral function is said to increase the risk of developing dementia, it is also effective for dementia prevention.

In settings such as senior care facilities, explaining these benefits before the exercise can encourage more motivated participation.

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kojifumi

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