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Oromyofunctional Training: an Innovative Rehabilitation Program for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Oromyofunctional Training: an Innovative Rehabilitation Program for Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07129967
Acronym
OROFIT
Enrollment
90
Registered
2025-08-19
Start date
2024-08-08
Completion date
2027-01-01
Last updated
2025-08-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Keywords

Orofacial myofunctional therapy, obstructive sleep apnea

Brief summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent medical condition with important implications for overall health and quality of life in both children. Therefore, it is important to treat OSA early and effectively. However, adenotonsillectomy, the standard therapeutic approach for children with OSA, is often inadequate. Research shows that 20-40% of children still have residual OSA symptoms after surgery. Therefore, exploring other treatment options, specifically for those patients who currently have insufficient therapeutic options, is an interesting and relevant avenue for research. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment option for children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Orofacial myofunctional therapy consists of a set of oropharyngeal exercises to correct abnormal orofacial functions and strengthen upper airway muscles that are involved in maintaining airway patency. Both objective and subjective/patient-reported outcomes are collected to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the potential of orofacial myofunctional therapy as a treatment for OSA.

Detailed description

Objective: Determine the effect of 12 weeks of orofacial myofunctional therapy on oromyofunctional, sleep and sleep-related quality of life outcomes in children with OSA (AHI \> 1)

Interventions

Orofacial myofunctional therapy consists of a set of oropharyngeal exercises to correct abnormal orofacial functions such as mouth breathing and a caudal tongue position, and strengthen upper airway muscles (e.g., muscles of the tongue and soft palate) that are involved in maintaining airway patency.

Sponsors

University Ghent
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Children aged between 6-12 * Diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Polysomnography (AHI\<1)

Exclusion criteria

* History of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy * Undergoing an orthodontic procedure during the study period * Undegoing an OSA treatment during the study period * Orofacial congenital deformities * Mental retardation (\>2 SD above P50)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Sleep: change in OAHImeasurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Obstructive apnea hypopnea index measured by polysomnography

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Orofacial strengthmeasurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Lip and tongue strength measured with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument.
Quality of Life outcomes: CHQ-PF28measurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF28)
Orofacial Myofunctional Outcomes: OMES scoremeasurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Score on the 'Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with scores' protocol.
Sleep: BSQmeasurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Score on the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire
Sleep: PSGmeasurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Polysomnography: * Oxygen Desaturation Index * Saturation 93% * Minimum saturation * Mean saturation * Sleep efficiency * Apnea Index (AI) (- Apnea-Hyponea Index (AHI) = primary outcome derived from PSG)
Sleep: PSQmeasurement 1: pre therapy, measurement 2: post therapy (after 12 weeks of therapy)Score on the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire

Countries

Belgium

Contacts

Primary ContactJolien Verbeke, MSc
joliverb.verbeke@ugent.be+32 9 332 01 43

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026