International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy

11 pages, 304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Factors Related to the Acquisition of Masticatory Function in Down Syndrome Children

by Miki Mizukami, Takeshi Kikutani, Miwa Matsuyama, Keigo Nagashima, Tomoko Isoda and Fumiyo Tamura

Int. J. Orofac. Myol. Myofunct. Ther. 2019, 45(1), 46-56; https://doi.org/10.52010/ijom.2019.45.1.4 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 143

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) has the highest prevalence of any chromosomal abnormality identified in newborns. DS children have specific eating and swallowing difficulties such as poor tongue control, mouth opening, swallowing food without chewing, and both facial and occlusal abnormalities. DS children are also at high risk of aspiration, and swallowing food without chewing is considered to be a factor associated with increased risk of aspiration and eating problems. This study aimed to identify factors preventing the acquisition of masticatory function in DS children. The subjects were 75 outpatient DS children (44 males, age range 12 to 36 month-old, mean age 33.0 ± 7.0 monthold; 31 females, age 12 to 36 month-old, mean age 20.8 ± 8.0 month-old), who had not yet acquired masticatory function, out of 319 who visited the clinic between October 2012 and October 2017. The information necessary for assessment was retrospectively extracted from the medical records of the subjects. The items examined included age, birth weight, nutritional intake, picky eating, tactile hyperesthesia, cognitive development assessed by Ohta stage, gross motor function, occlusal condition by Hellman’s dental age, and tongue thrust/lip closure/mastication while eating. The relationships between the acquisition of masticatory function and these items were investigated after one year of rehabilitation. The revealed age, low birth weight, picky eating, and gross motor function to be relevant factors. Among these, gross motor function was found to be the factor most strongly associated with acquisition of masticatory function. Full article

15 pages, 442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Lip Closing Function During Taking Food into the Mouth in Children with Down Syndrome

by Tomoko Isoda, Fumiyo Tamura, Takeshi Kikutani, Miki Mizukami, Hiroyuki Yamada and Kimiko Hobo

Int. J. Orofac. Myol. Myofunct. Ther. 2019, 45(1), 31-45; https://doi.org/10.52010/ijom.2019.45.1.3 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 134

Abstract

Children with Down Syndrome (DS) show developmental retardation of gross motor function including acquisition of oral movements related to eating and swallowing. To characterize the process of development/acquisition of eating/swallowing function of children with DS, interlabial pressure (IP) during taking food into the mouth was assessed. This study included 99 children with DS (birth to 4 year-old), and 112 age-matched control children showing typical development. IP during taking food into the mouth was measured as an objective index of lip closing function. The system for measuring IP during taking food into the mouth consisted of a strain gauge-pressure sensor connected to a strain-measuring device, which sent data to a personal computer installed with electromagnetic oscillograph software to display pressure waveforms. The DS and typically developing children were grouped into each age group and the data were compared between matched-age groups. IP during taking food into the mouth, pressuretime (PT), variation coefficient (VC) of IP during taking food into the mouth and VC of PT were analyzed using the unpaired t-test. Analyses showed a significantly higher IP during taking food into the mouth in the DS population than in the typically developing children in the 2 and 3 year old (p = 0.042 and 0.049, respectively) groups. No significant difference was observed between the DS and typically developing groups with respect to PT, VC of IP during taking food into the mouth or VC of PT for any age group. Children with DS showed a process of acquisition of lip closing function during taking food into the mouth similar to the process found in typically developing children, even though children with DS experience developmental retardation in gross motor and cognitive functions. Full article

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18 pages, 729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility of Using a Tongue-Activated Joystick by Healthy Pre-Teen Children

by Mariana Souza Amaral, Ranata Maria Moreira Moraes Furlan, Guilherme André Santana, Clarice Magnani Figueiredo, Estevam Barbosa de Las Casas and Andréa Rodrigues Motta

Int. J. Orofac. Myol. Myofunct. Ther. 2019, 45(1), 13-30; https://doi.org/10.52010/ijom.2019.45.1.2 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 110

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the motivation and the effects of: tongue movement direction; resistance force level; repetition number; and sustained tongue contraction duration on tongue motor performance in healthy pre-teen children using computer games. METHODS: An analytical observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 15 healthy 11–13 year-old children with normal lingual strength. The participants played six computer games using a tongue-controlled joystick. The series varied the time for continuous force application on the target (3 and 5 s) and the target force level (0.5, 1 and 2 N). After the tests, the participants answered a questionnaire about their impressions and reactions to the game. The variables analyzed were number of attempts to score (NAS), time for which the target force was maintained (TTFM), and the time spent for scoring (TSS). RESULTS: Of 43 normally developing candidates screened for the study, 15 (35%) were included for having entirely normal tongue structure and function and for being able to complete all of the study tasks. Of the 15 participants, 11 (73.3%) said that it was easy to play, three (20.0%) found it a bit hard to play, and only one (6.6%) considered it difficult to play. The results suggest that healthy individuals with normal lingual structure and function are able to successfully perform the games, but those with longer durations of sustained contraction (5 s) and the most required force (2 N) are the most difficult. Leftward and upward movements were more difficult than rightward and downward movements. CONCLUSION: All of these carefully selected participants were able to perform all of the study tasks, indicating that this method is feasible for pre-teens with normal lingual structure and function. The joystick device encouraged the participants to perform tongue movements that may be part of the typical orofacial myofunctional treatment exercises for tongue function. Results indicated that this game has the potential to be highly motivating for pre-teen children who are able to perform the tasks. Full article

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11 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Enhancing the Evidence Base in Orofacial Myology

by Hope C. Reed

Int. J. Orofac. Myol. Myofunct. Ther. 2019, 45(1), 4-12; https://doi.org/10.52010/ijom.2019.45.1.1 - 1 Nov 2019

Viewed by 101

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to stimulate research in orofacial myology. The research-to-practice gap may be reduced by highlighting concepts relating to evidence-based practice. Information is also presented on the International Association of Orofacial Myology Institutional Review Board process. Full article

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1 pages, 57 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Editor's Corner: Institutional Review Board

by Patricia Taylor

Int. J. Orofac. Myol. Myofunct. Ther. 2019, 45(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.52010/ijom.2019.45.1.5 - 1 Nov 2019

Viewed by 82

Abstract

The International Journal of Orofacial Myology is the only professional journal dedicated specifically to related OMD clinical topics [...] Full article

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Int. J. Orofac. Myol. Myofunct. Ther., Volume 45, Issue 1 (November 2019) – 5 articles , Pages 3-56

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