OROFACIAL MYOFUNCTIONAL DISORDERS IN PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON ORAL SPEECH

• Main Authors: Jana Mikuláštíková, Kateřina Vitásková
• Format: Article
• Language: ces
• Published: Association of Speech-Language Pathologists of Czech Republic 2018-03-01
• Series: Listy klinicke logopedie
• Subjects: orofacial myofunctional disorders (omd); preschool age; orofacial complex; articulation; swallowing disorders; tongue rest posture; orthodontic anomalies
• Online Access: https://casopis.aklcr.cz/en/artkey/lkl-201801-0010_orofacial-myofunctional-disorders-in-preschool-age-children-and-their-influence-on-oral-speech.php

The aim of this article is to point out the issue of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) in the wider context of the foreign concept and to present the research dealing with the correlation between OMD and oral speech, which was implemented within the diploma thesis at Palacky University in Olomouc between May 2012 and June 2013. The subject of qualitative research was a detailed analysis of OMD manifestations and articulation pathology in eight pre-school children. The aim was to describe the possible relationships between the OMD and the observed articulation deviations, with an emphasis on the detailed analysis of individual anamneses and their mutual comparison. Various research methods were applied in the research: observation, interview, analysis of professional clinical speech therapy documentation, examination using special methods for OMD diagnosis and photographic documentation. With all the eight children significant manifestations of the OMD, which were observed in most evaluated areas, were confirmed. Significant pathological manifestations included the incorrect position of a tongue in stationary state and in oral phase of swallowing, occlusal anomalies, muscle dysbalance in the area of orofacial complex, oral way of breathing, deviations in body posture and total body dispositions. In terms of speech defective pronunciation of most alveolar sounds by means of tongue thrust or lateral way of realisation was recorded with all the observed children. The most frequent was the interdental pronunciation of the prealveolar sounds "c", "s", "z", and also "t", "d", "n", "l"). The research also revealed that the incorrect position of a tongue in stationary state corresponded with the defective way of realisation of the prealveolar sounds. In view of this finding and due to the nature of the articulation imbalances in observed children with OMD, which were very similar in all the children, the relationship between OMD and specific pathology in the articulation is very likely. On the basis of these findings it is possible to assume that if the tongue is permanently in the incorrect position in stationary state when its apical part is usually in tongue thrust and this movement of the tongue is fixed when swallowing in the long run, this pathology will be seen also in the area of realisation especially of the alveolar sounds. However, it is also important to mention that thanks to the qualitative nature of the research, the observed results cannot be generalized and it would certainly be beneficial to carry out a quantitative-focused research which would closely describe these consequences within the Czech environment.