Effects of the Castillo-Morales stimulating plate on speech development of children with orofasiyal muscle dysfunction

In this study, it was aimed to determine the contribution of 12 months of Castillo-Morales palatal plate therapy to functional development as well as the effects of the results on speech and soft tissue development in handicapped children having orofacial muscle dysfunctions. The study was conducted on 30 children having orofacial muscle dysfunctions with ages between 3-13 yean. Functional alterations in 19 children of study group who accepted to have the treatment and I 1 children of control group were assessed at baseline, 6th and 12'~ months according to Oreland criteria. The effects of treatment results on speech development of children were evaluated in 14 children from study group and 7 children from control group by Ankara Articulation Test. The improvements in terms of facial expression in children were determined with photographs taken at the beginning and at the end of therapy. Assessment of soft tissue development was carried out on 10 children analyzed with lateral sefalometric analysis according to Steiner's S line. Tongue positions according . to Fischer-Brandies and lip positions according to Jackson lip classification were determined in children from both study and control groups by video registration samples recorded at the beginning and at the end of therapy. The analysis of evaluations of oral function, speech and soft tissue development were made statistically. In conclusion, it was found that an outstanding improvement at orofacial dysfunctions was achieved in children using Castillo-Morales appliance and that the positive role of appliance on development of facial profile could be determined with soft tissue evaluation according to Steiner's S line and with lip and tongue position assessments according to video registration as well as photographs. Furthermore, the results of evaluation of speech development by AAT showed that appliance therapy contributed positively to speech therapy period. Key words: Castllo-Morales, orofacial muscle dysfunction, speech development, children