Prevalence of mouthbreathing in cleft lip and palate

The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of mouthbreathing in the cleft population. Percent nasal breathing was assessed in 85 children and adults using a pneumotachograph to measure nasal volumes and an inductive plethysmograph to measure tidal volumes. Breathing mode was defined using the following classifications of percent nasal breathing: 80 to 100 percent, nasal; 60 to 79 percent, predominantly nasal; 40 to 59 percent, mixed oral-nasal; 20 to 39 percent, predominantly oral; 0 to 19 percent, oral. Results demonstrate that 68 percent of the subjects were oral, predominantly oral or mixed oral-nasal breathers, and 32 percent were predominantly nasal or nasal breathers. Adults had the same prevalence of mouthbreathing as children. These findings demonstrate that cleft lip/palate and its treatment frequently compromise nasal respiration.