Electromyographic Study of Masseter and Temporalis Muscles During Mastication in Children with and without Down Syndrome Aged 2-12 Years

Swallowing disorder is a common and constant problem in people with Down Syndrome. In experimental method electromyography can be used to evaluate Mastication . The aim of this study was to evaluate the electromyography of the masseter and temporal muscles during Mastication in 2 to 12 years old children with Down syndrome in Arak.

This is a descriptive-analytical and case-control study, that conducted with the purpose of electromyographic study of masseter and temporal muscles during Mastication  on 15 children from available 2 to 12 years old Down Syndrome and 15 children that were matched according the method of person-to-person matching in terms of age and gender with samples with Down syndrome.

 In this study, conscious consent was obtained from all parents and no physical harm was inflicted on individuals.

About the comparison of the mean of amplitude (intensity) of electrical signal of muscle between two groups except right temporal muscle during Mastication  and about the mean of the mean frequency when Mastication  except for left temporal muscle, in other cases the difference was significant. In the case of comparing the median frequency of the electrical signal of the muscle in most muscles the difference was not significant.

 Mean amplitude (intensity) and frequency of the mean electrical signal of the muscle when chewing in most muscles was different between the two groups with Down syndrome and normal, but the differences in mean median frequency in most muscles were insignificant.