Karen Davidson

Dr. Karen Davidson


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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24 August 2026 in Preprints.org
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KDKaren Davidson
Karen Davidson
TMTom Milroy
Tom Milroy
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) addresses functional impairments involving tongue and lip function, swallowing, and breathing behaviors. Mobile health (mHealth) platforms may facilitate structured delivery and monitoring of home-based exercises, but evidence regarding feasibility in clinical practice remains limited. This study evaluated the feasibility of a smartphone-based OMT platform by examining pre- to post-intervention changes in functional measures and adherence. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted using 15 de-identified clinical records from a single clinical database. Eligible records included documented platform use, baseline and post-intervention measurements, symptoms of at least six months’ duration, and participation in the 16-week intervention. Measures included lip pressure, tongue pressure, swallowing performance, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), forward head posture, and incentive spirometry. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used as appropriate. Significant pre- to post-intervention changes were observed in forward head posture, PNIF, incentive spirometry, lip pressure, tongue pressure, and swallowing performance. Adherence was high, with 14 of 15 participants (93%) completing the 16-week program. No adverse events were reported. This retrospective analysis provides preliminary feasibility data for smartphone-delivered OMT. Findings are exploratory and do not establish efficacy, causality, diagnostic validity, or effectiveness for specific medical conditions. Prospective controlled studies using standardized outcome measures are warranted.