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The effect of incentive spirometer training on oromotor and pulmonary functions in children with Down's syndrome
Amira F Ibrahim1, Elham E Salem1, Nada E Gomaa2
1Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Cairo University, Giza District, Egypt.
Insights
Oromotor exercises significantly improved oromotor and pulmonary functions in children with Down's syndrome. Incentive spirometry training showed no additional benefit when combined with oromotor exercises.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Children with Down's syndrome often exhibit deficits in oromotor and pulmonary functions.
- These functional impairments can impact speech production, feeding, and respiratory health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of incentive spirometry training in conjunction with oromotor exercises for children with Down's syndrome.
- To compare the effects of oromotor exercises alone versus combined therapy on oromotor and pulmonary functions.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 34 children with Down's syndrome (ages 6-12).
- Group A received oromotor exercises; Group B received oromotor exercises plus incentive spirometry training.
- Oromotor function was assessed using the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Score (OMES); pulmonary function was measured via computerized spirometry.
Main Results:
- Both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements in oromotor and pulmonary functions post-intervention.
- No statistically significant differences in outcomes were observed between the group receiving only oromotor exercises and the group receiving combined therapy.
Conclusions:
- Oromotor exercises alone appear to be effective in enhancing oromotor and pulmonary functions in children with Down's syndrome.
- Adding incentive spirometry training to oromotor exercises did not yield superior results compared to oromotor exercises alone for this population.
Objectives:
This study investigated the effect of incentive spirometry training on oromotor and pulmonary functions in children with Down's syndrome.
Methods:
Thirty-four children with Down's syndrome were randomly divided into two groups; the children were of both sexes and aged between 6 and 12 years. Group A received only oromotor exercises, while Group B received oromotor exercises and incentive spirometry training. The pulmonary function test was performed using computerized spirometry model master screen that assessed pulmonary functions (peak expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1s), while the orofacial myofunctional evaluation with score (OMES) was used to evaluate oromotor function before and after treatment.
Results:
The post treatment results showed significant difference in oromotor and pulmonary functions within both groups, but no significant differences were found between the two groups.
Conclusions:
Oromotor exercises are more effective than incentive spirometry training in improving both pulmonary and oromotor functions in children with Down's syndrome.
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