Paediatrics Publications
Title
Orofacial strength, dysarthria, and dysphagia in congenital myotonic dystrophy.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2018
Journal
Muscle & Nerve
Volume
58
Issue
3
First Page
413
Last Page
417
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.26176
Abstract
Introduction
Herein we present an exploratory study of orofacial function in children with congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM) vs. healthy controls.
Methods
We evaluated 41 children with CDM and 29 healthy controls for speech and swallow function and for lingual and labial strength.
Results
The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI), measuring tongue strength, and a lip force meter (LFM), measuring lip strength, had excellent interrater reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.75 (n = 19, P < 0.001) and 0.96 (n = 20, P < 0.001), respectively. Mean overall lingual strength was 3.5-fold less and labial strength was about 7-fold less in CDM patients than in healthy controls. Eighteen of 24 children with CDM demonstrated dysarthria and an additional 11 participants were nonverbal. Dysarthria correlated moderately with lingual strength, age, and dysphagia. Strength measures correlated moderately with dysphagia.
Discussion
Children with CDM have impaired orofacial functioning that affects communication and swallowing. Reliability of strength measures may be useful for future therapeutic trials. Muscle Nerve 58: 413-417, 2018.
Notes
Article available at Muscle & Nerve
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.26176
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.