Oromotor and Drooling Clinic
The Oromotor and Drooling Clinic at Children’s National Medical Center treats problems that arise from the inability to control oral and facial muscles, primarily in neurologically and cognitively compromised patients.
Patients older than 4 years of age are the optimal candidates for evaluation and management by the director of the clinic, Maria Pena, MD. Patients younger than 4 are often not candidates for the diagnostic and intervention strategies.
The Oromotor and Drooling Clinic is part of the Children’s Division of Otolaryngology, which specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders
Conditions Treated
- Oromotor dysfunction – the inability to control the muscles of the mouth, including the tongue, lips and swallowing. It can impede speech and cause excessive drooling.
- Sialorrhea – excessive drooling or salivation, a common problem in neurologically impaired children (i.e., those with mental retardation or cerebral palsy). Sialorrhea causes a range of physical and psychosocial complications, including chapping, dehydration, odor, and social stigmatization, which can be devastating for patients and their families.
- Departments & Programs - Children's National Medical Center
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