Assessing tongue motor skills in children
Tongue Muscular Assessment in Children (TMAC) - Reproducibility Testing
This study is testing how well we can measure tongue movements in kids aged 4 to 17 to help understand different disorders.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 56 (estimated) |
| Ages | 4 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Université Catholique de Louvain Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels) |
| Trial ID | NCT06464081 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study focuses on evaluating the reliability of measuring tongue motor skills in children aged 4 to 17. It will assess various skills such as tongue elevation, swallowing, and protrusion, which are important for understanding a range of disorders. The study will select 56 subjects from an ongoing normative data collection effort to determine both intra-rater and inter-rater reliability in these measurements. The methodology includes assessments of sleep quality, anthropometry, tongue strength, endurance, and orofacial praxis.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 4 to 17 years who do not have any significant medical conditions affecting tongue motor skills.
Not a fit: Patients with eating disorders, dysphagia, neurological disorders, or any history of significant oral or pharyngeal surgery may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide reliable metrics for assessing tongue motor skills, aiding in the diagnosis and management of related disorders in children.
How similar studies have performed: While this study builds on ongoing efforts to collect normative data, the specific focus on reliability testing of tongue motor skills in children is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged between 4 and 17 years old Exclusion Criteria: * Eating disorder * Dysphagia * Cardiorespiratory disorder * Neurological disorder (including neuromuscular disorders) * Previous or ongoing obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome * Previous or ongoing cancer of the head or neck * Previous oral or pharyngeal surgery (except for the surgical removal of wisdom teeth) * Cranial, oral or upper airway malformation (ex.: nasal cavities, pharynx) * Previous or ongoing orthodontic treatment (e.g. braces) * More than 33% of positive answers to the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (≥ 8/22)
Where this trial is running
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels
- Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc — Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: William Poncin, Prof — Université Catholique de Louvain
- Study coordinator: William Poncin, Prof
- Email: william.poncin@uclouvain.be
- Phone: + 32470592032
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.