title: Speech intelligibility enhancement after maxillary denture treatment and its impact on quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tooth loss and its prosthetic rehabilitation significantly affect speech intelligibility. However, little is known about the influence of speech deficiencies on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The aim of this study was to investigate whether speech intelligibility enhancement through prosthetic rehabilitation significantly influences OHRQoL in patients wearing complete maxillary dentures. Speech intelligibility by means of an automatic speech recognition system (ASR) was prospectively evaluated and compared with subjectively assessed Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Speech was recorded in 28 edentulous patients 1 week prior to the fabrication of new complete maxillary dentures and 6 months thereafter. Speech intelligibility was computed based on the word accuracy (WA) by means of an ASR and compared with a matched control group. One week before and 6 months after rehabilitation, patients assessed themselves for OHRQoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speech intelligibility improved significantly after 6 months. Subjects reported a significantly higher OHRQoL after maxillary rehabilitation with complete dentures. No significant correlation was found between the OHIP sum score or its subscales to the WA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Speech intelligibility enhancement achieved through the fabrication of new complete maxillary dentures might not be in the forefront of the patients' perception of their quality of life. For the improvement of OHRQoL in patients wearing complete maxillary dentures, food intake and mastication as well as freedom from pain play a more prominent role.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knipfer
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riemann
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bocklet
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noeth
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eitner
authors.forename: Emeka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nkenke
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stelzle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003819:Denture Bases; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007508:Irritable Mood; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology*; D049250:Speech Recognition Software
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate