Aplicación del enfoque Bobath en las disfunciones orofaciales en niños de 0 a 6 años en el hospital IEES los Ceibos.

Abstract

Orofacial dysfunctions in children with neurodevelopmental disorders compromise feeding, breathing, and speech, and often co-occur with impairments in head and trunk control; early intervention is crucial to prevent sequelae. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the Bobath approach on orofacial function and postural control in children aged 0–6 years attending the Hospital General del Norte de Guayaquil IESS los Ceibos. Methods: Quantitative, pre-experimental, observational, descriptive, longitudinal study; sample of 34 children selected by convenience. Instruments used: PEMO, SATCo, and clinical history. The intervention consisted of a structured program based on the Bobath concept, complemented by home-based education. Results: Most of the cohort had Down syndrome (76.5%), followed by psychomotor delay (17.6%) and spina bifida (5.9%). Post-intervention, improvements were observed in feeding parameters, including increased intake of solids and the ability to maintain mouth closure, as well as in orofacial musculature—particularly the orbicularis and suprahyoid groups. Likewise, significant progress was noted in head and trunk control, confirmed by Wilcoxon testing at the 0.5% level. Conclusions: The Bobath approach led to improvements in orofacial function and postural control, supporting its clinical utility and underscoring the need for further research using controlled designs, standardized dosing, and longitudinal follow-up.