Orofacial therapy with oral stimulation plates by Castillo-Morales in a girl with infantile brain damage

Introduction: Children with infantile brain damage suffer from impaired functions of orofacial muscles, sensitivity of the oral mucosa, swallowing reflex, closure of mouth, and lateral movement of the tongue. This case report describes the successful therapy of a child with infantile brain damage with the aid of oral stimulation plates.
Background: About 30 years ago Castillo-Morales described the successful application of a stimulation therapy in children with Down Syndrome. Clinical experience showed that this therapy can also be applied in children exhibiting a hypertonic tongue.
Case Report: A 10-year-old girl with infantile brain damage presented in January 2018 in our department. The medical history comprised linguistic and mental retardation, body coordination problems, and PEG feeding. In the oral cavity excessive reflexes, increased salivation, infantile swallowing pattern, tongue protrusion, and reduced lateral movement of the tongue were observed. In March 2018, two oral stimulation plates with dorso-lateral stimulation elements (one on the right and one on the left side) were produced to improve these impaired functions. The patient was asked to wear the plates alternatively twice a day for 30 minutes each.
Follow Up: In December 2018 and August 2019, the stimulation plates had to be re-produced due to growth of the jaw. The last examination was in February 2020.
Conclusion: Because of this therapy, distinct reductions in the girl's hypersalivation was observed. In addition, for the parents brushing the child's teeth became much easier. It is recommended to try this therapy more often in children with infantile brain damage or cerebral palsy.