Evaluation of oral function using a composite sensor during maximum lip closure and swallowing in normal children and adults

Abstract Background There is growing interest in the development of objective methods for assessing lip‐closing function in children. Objective To obtain normative data for healthy children in the developmental stages of lip closure function, we quantitatively evaluated oral movements associated with lip closure in children and adults using a composite sensor (CS). Methods Twenty‐five normal children (11 boys, 14 girls) aged 8.8 ± 1.6 years and 25 young adults (13 men, 12 women) aged 27.4 ± 3.9 years were asked to perform test movements, maximal lip closure and swallowing of 3 mL of water. Lip‐closing pressure (LP), intraoral baro‐pressure (IP) and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the upper orbicularis oris muscle were simultaneously recorded using the CS. Results EMG activity of the upper orbicularis oris muscle during closure was significantly greater in adults than in children. There were significant positive correlations between integral values of LP and EMG for closure in adults ( r = .527, p = .008) but not in children, and significant positive correlations between integral values of LP and IP for swallowing in children ( r = .508, p = .010) but not in adults. Conclusions The CS may provide an effective tool for evaluating lip function in children acquiring oral function. For the combination of maxillary orbicularis oculus contraction and formation of intraoral negative pressure, EMG activity of the upper orbicularis oris muscle involvement in LP and IP involvement in LP may differ between children and adults.