Understanding the assessment of orofacial functions in children and adolescents: Insights from a scoping review

Abstract Background Orofacial dysfunction in children is associated with common conditions such as malocclusion and sleep-disordered breathing. However, variation in what is considered orofacial dys/function in the literature has precluded the development of a robust assessment approach. This scoping review aimed to synthesise current assessment procedures to identify the health professionals involved in assessments, the types of orofacial functions assessed and the assessment tasks and measures used, to support a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to assessment. Methods Five databases were systematically searched using keywords relating to “orofacial function”, “children” and “assessment”. Articles were eligible for inclusion if participants were aged 2–18 years with no diagnosed neurological or cognitive disorder and the assessment protocol included a direct assessment of at least one orofacial motor function. Data about the professionals involved, types of orofacial functions, assessment tasks and measures used were extracted. Results A total of 185 articles were included in this review. Speech-language pathologists and dental professionals were most commonly involved in assessments (66% and 41%, respectively). Six types of orofacial functions were identified: (1) volitional oromotor movements, (2) resting postures, (3) speech, (4) swallowing, (5) breathing and (6) chewing. A taxonomy was developed to classify and break down the range of assessment tasks and measures reported in the literature. Conclusions Interdisciplinary collaborations between SLPs and dental professionals when assessing children with orofacial dys/function will allow for more integrated care and extend the clinical skills of professionals. Assessing a combination of orofacial functions should be considered, but the combinations of functions assessed may differ depending on the presenting concerns. A range of assessment tasks and measures were identified, however, ongoing research to establish a gold-standard approach to assessment is recommended. Trial Registration https://osf.io/3tkxw