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Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy: Investigating a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea in
Jolien Verbeke1, Iris Meerschman1, Karlien Dhondt2,3
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Centre for Speech and Language Sciences (CESLAS), Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 2P1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Insights
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) offers a promising, non-invasive treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study evaluates OMT
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Genetics and Rare Diseases
Background:
- Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects 1-5% of non-syndromic children and up to 90% of those with Down syndrome.
- Current treatments like adenotonsillectomy are not universally effective, and adherence to other therapies can be poor.
- High-risk populations, including children with Down syndrome, face significant challenges with existing OSA interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) as a treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- To assess OMT's impact on sleep parameters, orofacial functions, and quality of life in children with and without Down syndrome.
Main Methods:
- A pretest-posttest design will be employed to measure changes before and after OMT intervention.
- The study includes two groups: non-syndromic children (10 weeks of OMT) and children with Down syndrome (20 weeks of OMT).
- Objective measures (e.g., AHI, snoring) and patient-reported outcomes will be collected.
Main Results:
- OMT is anticipated to improve orofacial functions, such as breathing patterns and tongue resting posture.
- A reduction in OSA severity, indicated by lower obstructive Apnea-Hyponea Index (oAHI) and decreased snoring, is expected.
- Enhanced quality of life is predicted for both non-syndromic and syndromic children undergoing OMT.
Conclusions:
- This research protocol aims to establish OMT as a viable, non-invasive treatment for pediatric OSA.
- Findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of OMT's benefits, particularly for children with Down syndrome.
- The study highlights a multidisciplinary approach involving ENT specialists and speech-language pathologists.
Background/Objectives:
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent medical condition, affecting 1-5% of non-syndromic children and 30-90% of children with Down syndrome. Given the severity of the condition and the associated health risks, early and effective treatment is crucial. However, current treatment modalities are often invasive or suffer from poor patient adherence. Additionally, adenotonsillectomy, the first-line treatment in pediatric OSA, seems not to be effective in every child, leaving children with residual OSA postoperatively. These challenges are particularly pronounced in high-risk populations, such as children with Down syndrome, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Therefore, a protocol is presented to evaluate the effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) as a treatment for OSA in two pediatric populations: (1) Non-syndromic children aged 4-18 years: 10 weeks of OMT. (2) Children with Down syndrome aged 4-18 years: 20 weeks of OMT. Effects of the OMT program will be evaluated on: sleep parameters (e.g., obstructive Apnea-Hyponea Index (oAHI), snoring frequency); orofacial functions (e.g., breathing pattern, tongue position at rest); quality of life outcomes.
Methods:
A pretest-posttest design will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of OMT in both children with and without Down syndrome and OSA. Both objective measures and patient-reported outcomes are being collected.
Results:
OMT is expected to improve orofacial functions, reduce OSA severity and symptoms, and enhance quality of life in both non-syndromic and syndromic children.
Conclusions:
This multidisciplinary research protocol, involving collaboration between ENT specialists and speech-language pathologists, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of OMT in treating OSA.
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