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. 2024 Nov 26;29(1):8.
doi: 10.1007/s11325-024-03178-y.

Comprehensive analysis of orofacial motor skills in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Franciele Voltarelli da Silva Dias  1   2 , Luciana Vitaliano Voi Trawitzki  1   2 , Denny Marcos Garcia  2 , Alan Luiz Eckeli  3 , Fabiana Cardoso Pereira Valera  1   2 , Wilma Terezinha Anselmo-Lima  1   2 , Cláudia Maria de Felício  4   5
Affiliations

Comprehensive analysis of orofacial motor skills in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Franciele Voltarelli da Silva Dias et al. Sleep Breath. .

Abstract

Background: The neuromuscular activity has a critical role in the permeability of the upper airways.

Objective: The present study aimed to conduct a detailed and comparative investigation of the orofacial musculature and motor skills of children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Materials and methods: Children aged 7 to 12 years with OSA (OSA group, n = 12) and without OSA (Control group, n = 12) were compared. Orofacial appearance/posture and motor skills were assessed using the orofacial myofunctional evaluation protocol with scores. Bite force, tongue pressure measurements, and surface electromyography of swallowing were also performed.

Results: Compared to the control group, the OSA group obtained lower scores in appearance/posture, mobility, and orofacial functions (P < 0.0001), and lower values of bite force (P = 0.019) and tongue strength in protrusion (P = 0.008) and deglutition (P = 0.004). The OSA group also displayed lower values of maximum speed (P = 0.003) and peak activity (P = 0.0005) during spontaneous swallowing and higher relative energy expenditure (integral) of the muscles in the water swallowing task (50 mL) (P ≤ 0.01). Notably, the effect size ranged from moderate to large for all groups differences.

Conclusion: The children with OSA showed impairments in orofacial musculature and motor skills, as evidenced by reduced muscle recruitment capacity and coordination in applying pressure/force and performing orofacial movements and functions.

Clinical relevance: This study contributes to the understanding of non-anatomical factors associated with OSA in children and to the development of therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Children; Evaluation; Myofunctional therapy; Obstructive sleep apnea; Orofacial motor skills; Sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (USP) (protocol number 64209817.4.0000.5440). Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

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