Pacifier-sucking habit duration and frequency on occlusal and myofunctional alterations in preschool children

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of pacifier-sucking habit with occlusal and oral myofunctional alterations in preschool children. Eighty-four 2- to 5-year-old children participated in the study. Data on duration and frequency of pacifier use were collected from parents or guardians. Occlusal and oral myofunctional characteristics were examined by a dentist and a speech therapist, respectively. Chi-square tests and Poisson regression were used to analyze the data. The occlusal characteristics that were significantly associated with a pacifier-sucking habit were anterior open bite, altered canine relation, posterior crossbite, increased overjet, and malocclusion. The oral myofunctional characteristics that were significantly associated with a pacifier-sucking habit were resting lip position, resting tongue position, shape of the hard palate, and swallowing pattern. The strongest associations were for anterior open bite (prevalence ratio [PR] = 11.33), malocclusion (PR = 2.33), altered shape of the hard palate (PR = 1.29), and altered swallowing pattern (PR = 1.27). Both duration and frequency of pacifier-sucking habit were associated with occlusal and oral myofunctional alterations. These results emphasize the need for pediatric dentists to advise parents and caregivers about the risks of prolonged pacifier use and refer children to professionals for multidisciplinary assistance to minimize these risks whenever necessary.

Avaliação fonoaudiológica vocal em cantores infanto-juvenis / Speech-therapy evaluation in child singers

Objetivo: discutir e fundamentar aspectos relativos a propostas de avaliação vocal em cantores infantojuvenis. Métodos: foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico em Universidades de Maringá e Curitiba, emperiódicos indexados nas áreas de voz e canto. Resultados: os aspectos priorizados na seleção dos dados colhidos do levantamento bibliográfico para a avaliação fonoaudiológica voltada para cantores infanto-juvenis foram: postura, estruturas envolvidas, articulação, ressonância, altura vocal, tipo de voz, ataques vocais, avaliação perceptivo-auditiva no canto, ritmo e intensidade. Conclusão: a avaliaçãoem cantores infanto-juvenis deve ser específica, em função da idade e uso da voz, tendo assim a necessidade de sistematização de determinados tópicos para direcionar as técnicas necessárias àvoz cantada e tornar o seu desenvolvimento mais efetivo.

Purpose: to discuss and to substantiate aspects related to proposals of audio-perceptive evaluation in young singers. Methods: we collected bibliographic information at Universities in Maringá and Curitiba (Paraná/Brasil) and researched into periodicals related to voice and singing area indexed on databases such as Lilacs, Google and Bireme. Results: we collected bibliographic data in order to make aspeech evaluation in young singers. The main aspect taken into consideration for the section of this information were the posture, structures involved in the singing process, articulation, resonance, vocal pitch, type of voice, vocal attacks, perceptual evaluation at singing, rhythm and intensity. Conclusion: The evaluation in young children should be specific, according to the age and the use of the voice; therefore, it is necessary to systematize certain topics to apply the techniques needed develop the singing properly.