Abstract: An arrangement for rewarding tongue-retraction exercise therapy performed by swallowing-impaired surgical and disease patients is disclosed. The achieved therapy includes execution of an oral sucking act (as opposed to lung originated suction) in combination with provision of a patient communicated incentive feedback signal measurement of the sucking act pressures --pressures below atmospheric pressure. The patient communication includes a visual bar graph related display and in the disclosed apparatus is provided with a plurality of four scale ranges in order to accommodate patients of varying swallowing act impairment. The achieved base of tongue strengthening exercise has been found to enable swallowing recovery in weeks in lieu of the expected months (or never) that is normally seen in severely impaired surgical or disease patients. A discussion of the swallowing act and its impairment behavior is included.