口腔感覺功能評估

口腔是消化道的開口，不僅是食物必經的通道，更擔負重要的運動及感覺功能。運動功能指的是咀嚼、吞嚥和輔助發音。感覺功能指的是味覺、鼻後嗅覺（retronasal olfaction）、以及體感覺（somatosensory）。較廣為人知的咀嚼、吞嚥和發音等運動功能必需有健全的感覺功能方能順利起始及完成。臨床上口腔感覺功能的相關文獻非常有限，本文將簡介口腔的組成與生理功能及口腔三大感覺功能，並進一步針對感覺功能中之口腔體感覺功能的評估及其影響因子做更詳細說明。

The oral cavity is the first portion of the digestive tract, which provides both sensory and motor functions. Phonation, mastication, and swallowing constitute motor function and taste, retronasal olfaction, and oral somatosensory function are considered sensory function. Oral intake requires the coordination of both sensory and motor functions. But little was known about the way to assess oral sensory function. This article aims to briefly review the three oral sensory functions with a special focus on the assessment of oral somatosensory function. We hope by enhancing the awareness among professionals and patients with oral sensory deficits, impairment in the somatosensory function in particular, could be detected earlier and timely therapeutic treatments could be provided to improve functions and to reduce complications.