Orofacial myofunctional evaluation in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1

PURPOSE: to describe and characterize alterations in orofacial function in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 and to correlate these changes with the clinical manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 and muscular strength. METHODS: the study included 24 individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1, 12 men and 12 women, aged 14-50 years, matched by sex and age with volunteers not affected by the disease. All subjects were evaluated for maximal handgrip force and, using the MBGR protocol, for orofacial motricity. RESULTS: individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 had a higher prevalence of abnormal phono-articulatory patterns and significant differences (p