Pediatric normative data on tongue protrusion for subsequent comparison in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

<bold>Background:</bold> The effective components of orofacial myofunctional therapy, investigated in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing, have yet to be identified. Among tongue motor skills, tongue protrusion is associated with the reopening of the upper airway. The lack of normative data limits the exploration of its significance. <bold>Aims and objectives:</bold> To propose normative data for tongue motor skills in protrusion, elevation, and swallowing in healthy children (4 to 18 years old). <bold>Methods:</bold> The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) was used to measure the pressure exerted by the tongue against an air-filled bulb connected to the device. The following data will be collected in 420 healthy children (ongoing study): (1) the tongue maximal pressure (Pmax) exerted against the IOPI bulb during tongue protrusion and elevation; (2) the tongue endurance (i.e., the time to task failure in maintaining a pressure equal to 50% Pmax against the IOPI bulb) during tongue protrusion and elevation; (3) the tongue pressure exerted against the IOPI bulb while swallowing (Pswallow). <bold>Results:</bold> Preliminary data (n=57) were collected from children aged 4 to 6 (n=18), 7 to 9 (n=24), and 10 to 13 (n=15) years old. Mean ± SD Pmax in protrusion was 12.4 ± 5.1 kPa in 4 to 6 years old. In 7 to 9 and in 10 to 13 years old, Pmax in protrusion was 15.0 ± 6.4 and 16.1 ± 4.9 kPa, respectively. Significant correlations were found between age and Pmax in protrusion (r = 0.28, p = 0.036), in elevation (r = 0.60, p < 0.001), and Pswallow (r = 0.40, p = 0.003). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Preliminary data shows that tongue protrusion Pmax increase with age during childhood.