Does upper airway ventilation disorder in children affect the development of swallowing function?

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23035
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Yushi 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域歯学系, 助教 (50878270)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 小児歯科学 / 摂食嚥下機能 / 口腔機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of upper airway disorder (a condition in which the nose and throat are clogged and difficulty in breathing) on the swallowing function (the function of eating and swallowing). Prior to that, we will establish a method for quantifying and objectively evaluating oral function. Rinsing is one of the methods for evaluating oral function. This time, using a camera equipped with a vital sensing function, we built a system that recognizes the face and measures lip motion when rinsing. We statistically examined the symmetry of lip motion and the rinsing cycle in adults and children as subjects. We have compiled the obtained data and created an English paper, which is currently being submitted to an international journal.

Free Research Field

小児歯科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究でうがい時の口唇動作を解析し口腔機能の定量化を図ることで、将来的には本来、研究課題として掲げた上気道通期障害と摂食嚥下機能の関連性の解明が期待できる。さらに、口腔機能発達不全を認める小児への介入方法を確立し、臨床応用に向けた戦略を策定することができるなどの創造性も高く、小児の顎顔面領域の健全な形態的・機能的発育の促進に寄与することができる研究である。