Why oral rotation can shut down or not develop in children with seizures and intubation
Nov 18, 2025
Here are some reasons a child might be having difficulty with mouth movements
A. Seizure meds → tone changes
Anti-seizure medications often create:
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oral hypotonia (low tone)
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delayed initiation
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“thickening” in the mouth (reduced sensory registration)
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Reduced tongue lateralization
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decreased rotational planning
B. Intubation → nasal bridge + palate loading
Intubation changes the mechanics of:
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nasal airflow
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midline pressure
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rotational development of the upper palate
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cheek expansion
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pharyngeal responsiveness
This is why many children have nasal jamming. Look for an upward gaze and a flattened rotation through the naso-maxillary bones.
C. Seizure pattern → interruption of rotation
A seizure is essentially:
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an electrical override
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that strips the system of organized counter-rotation
Meaning:
The body resets to vertical/horizontal, not rotational.
The body resets to vertical/horizontal, not rotational.
Thus:
Oral skills collapse → speech collapses → feeding becomes primitive.
D. Facial bones are designed for rotation
The nasal bridge has multiple small bones because it must:
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rotate
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direct airflow
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create spiraling pressure
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guide oral–ocular symmetry
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support midline crossing
When that system gets “jammed,” rotation is lost.
And when rotation is lost, speech and feeding stall completely.
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