The Logopedic Evaluation of Adult Patients after Orthognathic Surgery

Abstract

Orthodontists correct dental malocclusion, but major facial skeleton deformations (skeletal malocclusion) are often subject to surgical correction. Several speech pathologies are associated with both of the occlusal anomalies mentioned above. The majority of articulation disorders and primary functions cannot be improved without skeletal correction. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of the multimodal and logopaedics treatment of Polish adults affected by skeletal malocclusion and speech-language pathology. A total of 37 adults affected by skeletal Class II and III malocclusion were included, along with the relationship between the malocclusion and speech deficiency (20 phonemes tested) in the subjects before and after surgical correction. The impact of surgery on pronunciation improvement and types of Polish phonemes most often misarticulated by Polish adults were also examined. Patients underwent combined treatment and received a full speech pathology examination. The treatment improved speech (p < 0.05), but the study did not prove that a specific surgery type was associated with pronunciation improvement. Some patients were provided with speech therapy during childhood, yet most had some minor difficulties with lip and tongue movements. Palatal, alveolar (p < 0.05), fricatives (p < 0.05), and labiodental consonant pronunciation (p < 0.05) improved. The surgical correction of malocclusion leads to better articulation of Polish consonants in adults and improves some primary functions.