@inproceedings{01KHV7Y61CKEBSZX1SQJHGJK2E,
  abstract     = {{Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent medical condition, affecting 1.2-5.7% of non-syndromic children, 30-90% of children with Down syndrome (30-90%), and 3-7% and 2-5% of adult men and women, respectively. Given the high prevalence and associated risks, effective treatment strategies are essential. 

In children, adenotonsillectomy is the standard intervention for OSA, but seems insufficient in 20–40% of non-syndromic children and up to 55% of children with Down syndrome. Residual OSA after adenotonsillectomy is often attributed to the persistence of oromyofunctional disorders such as mouth breathing and a low tongue position at rest, that are not cured after surgical intervention and underlie the development and maintenance of OSA. Therefore, oromyofunctional therapy that focusses on elimination of these incorrect habits, is emerging as a promising treatment for pediatric OSA.

For adults, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the first-line treatment for OSA. However, adherence is a major challenge, with nearly 50% of patients discontinuing CPAP within a year and 8–15% rejecting it after the first night. The high rate of non-compliance limits its effectiveness, highlighting the need for alternative treatment approaches such as oromyofunctional therapy. Research already demonstrated a significant decrease in OSA severity after oromyofunctional therapy in adult patients with moderate to severe OSA. Oromyofunctional therapy typically includes exercises that target the muscles of the tongue, soft palate and face, as well as stomatognathic exercises (breathing, chewing, swallowing...). No research is available on the effectiveness of oromyofunctional therapy in adults with mild OSA (apnea-hypopnea index < 15).

In this study, the effectiveness of OMFT was investigated in children with and without Down syndrome and OSA, and adults with mild OSA. The effectiveness of oromyofunctional therapy was determined on oromyofunctional, sleep, and quality of life outcomes.

Preliminary results in non-syndromic children indicate that oromyofunctional therapy reduces oromyofunctional disorders , improves sleep-related quality of life, and reduces OSA symptoms (e.g. daytime sleepiness and snoring frequency). In children, the elimination of open-mouth posture and mouth breathing appears to be crucial for treatment success. 

Data collection for both children and adults is ongoing, and further results will be available for the conference.}},
  author       = {{Verbeke, Jolien and Meerschman, Iris and Dhondt, Karlien and De Leenheer, Els and Kastoer, Chloé and Claeys, Sofie and Van Lierde, Kristiane}},
  booktitle    = {{33rd World Congress of the IALP 2025, Abstracts}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{St. Julian, Malta}},
  title        = {{Orofacial myofunctional therapy to reduce obstructive sleep apnea}},
  url          = {{https://ialpglobal.org/33rd-world-congress/}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}