The child with chronic mouth breathing: nasal air emission, oromotor function and impact on quality of life

Abstract

Introduction: Systematic upper airways (UA) obstruction is common in children and affects nasal air emission. Symptoms of this physiological change include predominance of mouth breathing, an imbalance of oromotor function that impairs the quality of life. Objectives: To measure nasal air emission in children with UA obstruction. In particular, to investigate the relationship between nasal air emission and oromotor performance and to determine the impact of nasal symptoms on the child's quality of life. Material and Methods: Exploratory cross-sectional study. Functional assessment of nasal air emission (using a metal plate), oromotor assessment (using the Orofacial Motor Assessment Protocol, version 2, PAOF-2) and perception of the impact of nasal symptoms on quality of life were performed using the Portuguese version of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE). Results: Sixty-two children (59.7% male) between 4;00 and 9;11 years of age were studied. The mean value of total nasal flow was 8.10 cm², with no significant age differences, but significantly lower in male children for the left nostril. There was a significant moderate correlation between nasal air emission and oromotor function at 4 years of age and in males. Children with a high number of symptoms had a significantly greater negative impact on their quality of life than children with a lower number of symptoms. Conclusion: Nasal obstrution in children was related to oromotor function with an age effect (at 4 years) and gender (males only). The negative impact on quality of life was related to the greater number of symptoms.