Table 2.

Maximum tongue pressure in children aged 4–6 years.

Age	4 Years Old		5 Years Old		6 Years Old
	(n = 155)		(n = 213)		(n = 100)
Maximum tongue pressure (kPa)	9.39 ± 5.42		14.18 ± 7.44 a		18.37 ± 6.67 a,b
Dental occlusion	Normal	Malocclusion	Normal	Malocclusion	Normal	Malocclusion
	(n = 74)	(n = 81)	(n = 103)	(n = 110)	(n = 42)	(n = 58)
Maximum tongue pressure (kPa)	8.77 ± 5.65	9.96 ± 5.17	15.62 ± 7.27	12.86 ± 7.41 c	17.82 ± 6.49	18.72 ± 6.89
Sex	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls
	(n = 81)	(n = 74)	(n = 104)	(n = 109)	(n = 59)	(n = 41)
Maximum tongue pressure (kPa)	10.16 ± 5.67	8.55 ± 5.04	14.47 ± 7.65	13.90 ± 7.28	18.89 ± 7.19	17.63 ± 5.85

^a: p < 0.001 versus 4-year-olds; ^b: p < 0.001 versus 5-year-olds; ^c: p = 0.007 versus normal occlusion in 5-year-olds.