Web version of the protocol of the orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores: usability and learning

PURPOSE

The Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES) protocol has been validated and used in clinical practice and research. The goals of this study were to develop, analyze and improve a version of OMES for the Web and to investigate the relationship between the usability judgments and the prior experience of the evaluators and whether using the interface promotes learning, as shown by the task completion time (TCT).

METHODS

Study steps: 1) inspection of the prototype by the team; 2) evaluation of usability by three experienced speech-language pathologists (SLPs); and 3) evaluation of its usability by 12 SLPs with varying levels of experience in the use of OMES. Participants answered the Heuristic evaluation (HE), the Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ), and expressed free comments. The TCT was recorded.

RESULTS

The OMES-Web reached excellent usability levels, and the participants were highly satisfied. The correlations between the participants' experience and the HE and CSUQ scores were not significant. The TCT decreased significantly throughout the tasks.

CONCLUSION

OMES-Web meets the usability criteria, and participants feel satisfied with the system regardless of their level of experience. The fact that it is easy to learn favors its adoption by professionals.

Impact of Oral Myofunctional Therapy on Orofacial Myofunctional Status and Tongue Strength in Patients with Tongue Thrust

INTRODUCTION

Tongue thrust is a frequent clinical condition characterized by abnormal patterns of movements and altered tongue posture on the mouth floor. It might contribute to determining alterations in the maxillofacial morphology and in the development of malocclusion. Several therapeutic options are available for treatment. In particular, the orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is frequently adopted even if only few studies have analyzed its efficacy using validated instruments and no information is available regarding the effect of dentition on the results obtained with OMT.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of OMT through a validated instrument and explore the role of dentition on its efficacy.

METHODS

A total of 22 consecutive patients with tongue thrust were enrolled. According to the presence of mixed or complete dentition, the cohort of patients was divided into 2 groups. Each patient underwent OMT according to the Garliner method (10 weekly sessions of 45 min each in hospital and daily exercises at home). The efficacy of OMT was evaluated using the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES), a validated protocol developed for the assessment of orofacial myofunctional disorders, and the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) to measure the peak isometric pressure exerted by the anterior and posterior part of the tongue. Both OMES and IOPI were administered before and at the end of the treatment.

RESULTS

A significant improvement in the OMES scores was demonstrated after OMT. No significant differences between the patients with intermediate and mixed dentition obtained in both the pre- and post-treatment conditions were demonstrated in the OMES scores. Similarly, a significant increase in the peak isometric tongue pressure in both the anterior and posterior parts of the tongue was demonstrated after OMT in the groups. No differences between the two groups in both the pre- and post-treatment conditions were demonstrated in the IOPI scores.

CONCLUSIONS

OMT improves orofacial motricity and tongue strength in patients with tongue thrust regardless of the type of dentition.