Articulation and oromyofunctional behavior in children seeking orthodontic treatment

Abstract

Children seeking orthodontics have articulatory and oromyofunctional disorders. To what extent a combined orthodontic and logopaedic treatment can result in optimal oral health (i.e. perfect dentofacial unit with perfect articulation) is subject for further multidisciplinary research.

Effects of fixed labial orthodontic appliances on speech sound production

“…However, our findings were consistent with those of the Khattab et al 14 randomized controlled study (although to a lesser degree than those treated with lingual appliances), in which all of patients accommodated the appliances within weeks. 6,14 As in earlier studies, [16][17][18] the phonemic errors seen, /s/ and /t/, were most commonly affected by the presence of labial fixed appliances. There are differences between how obstructions are caused by malocclusion and by labial appliances, but comparisons can be made, as /s/ and /t/ were the most affected phonemes in this study as well as in other studies.…”

“…Moreover, /s/ and /t/ findings were the most frequent sound error across languages as well. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In a study by Leavy et al, 16 lingual protrusion was found to be the most common visual inaccuracy among patients with malocclusions. As Subtelny and coworkers 17 noted, the articulatory error of /s/can be a result of excessive fronting of the tongue.…”

“…[2][3][4]14 The phonemes acknowledged to present lingering difficulties with articulation are /s/, /f/, /v/, /t/, /r/, /n/, and /l/ phonemes. 5,6,14 Feldman 15 presented the sole article containing data on the effects of labial fixed appliances in 1956 and reported an increase in errors immediately after appliance insertion, with resolution within weeks. Though useful, this study presents several shortcomings: small sample size, appliance variability, lack of sound error type and uniformity in evaluating sample readings, a lack of adult patients, and, finally, a lack of attention to malocclusions that may predispose one to maladaptation.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Such studies have described a transient effect, with acquired errors resolved within 2 to 3 months. [2][3][4]14 The phonemes acknowledged to present lingering difficulties with articulation are /s/, /f/, /v/, /t/, /r/, /n/, and /l/ phonemes.…”

“…Studies exploring the relationship between fixed orthodontic appliance placement and speech sound production are scant, with most (1) focusing on the impact of lingual appliances on articulation [2][3][4][5] ; (2) focused on children with factors such as digit habits, tongue thrust, and developing speech 6 ; and (3) focused across languages. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Such studies have described a transient effect, with acquired errors resolved within 2 to 3 months.…”