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Table 3 Sensitivity and specificity of the screening questionnaire, second draft (Part 2)

From: Proposal for a screening questionnaire for detecting habitual mouth breathing, based on a mouth-breathing habit score

 

Sensitivity (%)

Specificity (%)

1. Do you often have nasal congestion?

73.1

69.9

2. Is your mouth normally open?

80.8

78.4

3. Do you normally breathe through your mouth?

84.0

70.7

4. Are the gums of your front teeth often red and swollen?

42.3

80.7

5. Are your front teeth easily discolored?

65.4

63.1

6. Are you concerned that you may have bad breath?

76.9

52.8

7. Do you think you have an excessive overbite?

42.3

76.7

8. When you bite naturally, does your lower jaw extend excessively (mandibular protrusion)? Answer as follows:

Yes, if your lower teeth extend beyond upper teeth, as in Fig. a

Sometimes, if your upper and lower teeth are aligned, edge to edge, as in Fig. b

No, if your upper teeth extend over your lower teeth

23.1

83.8

(A)

(B)

9. When you swallow, does your tongue protrude between your teeth?

30.8

93.1

10. As an infant, were you bottle-fed, breast-fed, or both? Answer as follows:Yes, if bottle-fed onlySometimes, if bothNo, if breast-fed only

50.0

63.6

11. As a child (until around age 10), did you often have nasal congestion, from rhinitis or allergies?

60.0

72.0

12. Before age 16, were you ever diagnosed with bronchial asthma? Answer as follows:

Yes, if you had asthma attacks after age 16

Sometimes, if you had asthma before age 16, but not afterwards.

No, if you were never diagnosed with asthma.

17.4

92.3