Assessment of Orofacial Myofunctional Profiles of Undergraduate Students in the United States

Background: Previous research indicates a high prevalence of orofacial myofunctional disorders in the general population. It was further reported that orofacial dysfunction may have wide ramifications, such as teeth displacement, articulation errors, swallowing difficulties, middle ear infections, and frequent colds. The purpose of this study was to examine orofacial myofunctional profiles of undergraduate students in the United States.Method: The English version of the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) was used to assess 55 undergraduate university students (age range:18 to 23 years). In addition, each participant completed a standard hearing screening, as well as a hearing history questionnaire.Results: In our study sample, 31% of the undergraduate students who participated in the current research were ‘flagged’ to have an orofacial myofunctional disorder. There was no statistically significant correlation between middle ear infections and orofacial myofunctional disorders as assessed by the NOT-S.Conclusion: Although 31% of the study participants were ‘flagged’ for an orofacial myofunctional disorder, it appears that orofacial myofunctional disorders might be over-diagnosed depending on the assessment measures used. These findings may have direct implications for clinical practice with respect to assessment and intervention of patients with orofacial myofunctional disorders.