Clinical Case: Functional recovery in a patient with severe OSA and dysphagia thanks to Airway Gym

Clinical Case: Functional recovery in a patient with severe OSA and dysphagia thanks to Airway Gym
In December, an 82-year-old patient came to our clinic after being discharged from a hospital without a clear diagnosis. He had been admitted for severe dysphagia and multiple episodes of aspiration, experiencing constant choking and a profound feeling of decline. He had severe obstructive sleep apnea and was using CPAP without improvement. Both he and his family feared the worst.

Clinical examination revealed a severe phenotype:

Ankyloglossia

Marked lingual hypotonia (IOPI: 12)

Severe gastroesophageal reflux

Dyspnea related to epiglottic collapse

We established a treatment plan based on:
Customized exercises using the Airway Gym app
Anti-reflux lifestyle and dietary measures
Monthly clinical follow-up

Clinical Progress:
After just one month of therapy, the patient was asymptomatic: no more choking or aspiration, and a visible improvement in facial tone and energy.
At the latest follow-up, after completing 120 Airway Gym sessions, his IOPI reached 40, with full functional recovery.

Both the patient and his wife express deep gratitude, stating that the exercises “gave him his life back.”

This case clearly illustrates the potential of digital myofunctional therapy in complex phenotypes of sleep apnea, dysphagia, and oropharyngeal dysfunction. Airway Gym proves to be a powerful complementary tool in the comprehensive management of respiratory patients.