title: Effects of fixed labial orthodontic appliances on speech sound production.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the impact of fixed labial orthodontic appliances on speech sound production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Speech evaluations were performed on 23 patients with fixed labial appliances. Evaluations were performed immediately prior to appliance insertion, immediately following insertion, and 1 and 2 months post insertion. Baseline dental/skeletal variables were correlated with the ability to accommodate the presence of the appliances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Appliance effects were variable: 44% of the subjects were unaffected, 39% were temporarily affected but adapted within 2 months, and 17% of patients showed persistent sound errors at 2 months. Resolution of acquired sound errors was noted by 8 months post-appliance removal. Maladaptation to appliances was correlated to severity of malocclusion as determined by the Grainger's Treatment Priority Index. Sibilant sounds, most notably /s/, were affected most often.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) Insertion of fixed labial appliances has an effect on speech sound production. (2) Sibilant and stopped sounds are affected, with /s/ being affected most often. (3) Accommodation to fixed appliances depends on the severity of malocclusion.
authors.affiliation: a  Private Practice, Hewlett, NY.
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Paley
authors.affiliation: b  Professor, Department of Orthodontics, New York University, College of Dentistry, New York, NY.
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cisneros
authors.affiliation: c  Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, New York University, College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Olivier F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Nicolay
authors.affiliation: d  Clinical Specialist, Craniofacial Speech Physiology, Institute Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, 307 E. 33rd Street, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Etoile M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D010700:Phonetics; D013060:Speech
keywords: Malocclusion; Orthodontic appliances; Speech adaptation and Grainger’s Treatment Priority Index (GTPI); Speech sound production