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Oropharyngeal Exercises for Treatment of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing

  • Sleep and Otolaryngology (H Gouveris, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

We reviewed and discussed studies on the role of oropharyngeal exercises in the treatment of children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).

Recent Findings

There has been increasing recent evidence on the role of oropharyngeal exercises in the stepwise therapeutic approach in children with SDB.

An oropharyngeal evaluation, targeted to explore the presence of orofacial muscle hypotonia, should be part in the assessment of children with SDB, in order to recognize potential oropharyngeal characteristics to be treated.

Summary

Current literature demonstrates that oropharyngeal exercises help to treat oropharyngeal muscle dysfunction that persists following the standard treatment of SDB, and improve symptoms and polysomnographic sleep variables SDB related in pediatric population.

New studies to compare different oropharyngeal exercise programs and to evaluate the long-term effects of this therapeutic approach could contribute to the indication of oropharyngeal exercises for the treatment of obstructive SDB in children.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sant’Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy

    Maria Pia Villa & Melania Evangelisti

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  1. Maria Pia Villa
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  2. Melania Evangelisti
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Correspondence to Maria Pia Villa.

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Villa Maria Pia and Evangelisti Melania each declare no conflict of interest.

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Villa, M.P., Evangelisti, M. Oropharyngeal Exercises for Treatment of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing. Curr Sleep Medicine Rep 5, 33–40 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-019-00136-z

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