Can oral diadochokinesis be used as an assessment tool of oral function in older adults requiring care in nursing home?

Background: Oral diadochokinesis (OD) test is an articulation test that analyses fine movements of the lips, cheeks and tongue. It is difficult to perform the test accurately in older people with reduced physical and cognitive functions.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the number of older adults who could not be tested for OD and to investigate their characteristics.
Methods: The participants included 145 older residents of an aged care nursing home. They were divided into two groups: those who could be tested for OD and those who could not, and their characteristics were compared. The degree of requiring long-term care was classified into five levels. The degree of dementia was classified into five levels. Those having difficulty in performing daily activities alone and having degree III or higher dementia were considered to have severe dementia.
Results: The participants included 41 men and 104 women with a median age of 89 years (range, 64-105 years). Sixty-eight participants failed the OD test (46.9%). In univariate and multivariate analyses, degree of dementia and oral care (among other characteristics in univariate analysis) showed statistically significant differences between the two groups. Cut-off values for older adults who could not perform OD test were level 4 or higher in need of care and degree III or higher in dementia.
Conclusion: This study suggests that additional assessment tools for oral function should be considered for older adults requiring a nursing care level of 4 or higher and a dementia degree of III or higher.
(© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)