Study of Speech Changes in Patients with Jaw and Dental Differences Before and After Orthognathic Surgery and Orthodontic Treatment

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how jaw and tooth positions affect speech in patients undergoing jaw surgery for dentofacial disharmony DFD. They note that about 80% of these patients have speech problems, much higher than the general population, and aim to understand why. The study focuses on how open bites and underbites may cause difficulty in pronouncing words and whether surgical correction improves speech and tongue movements. Participants will be recorded speaking specific sounds while their tongue movements are monitored using ultrasound before and after surgery. The study observes patients at three times 1 to 3 months before surgery, 3 to 8 months after, and 9 to 15 months after. All participants are already seeking orthodontic and surgical treatment and will be observed without randomization or intervention by the researchers. During the study, participants will pronounce words emphasizing certain consonants while being audio and ultrasound recorded. Researchers will analyze speech sounds and tongue gestures relative to jaw and dental positions. They will measure changes over time up to 15 months post-surgery. The research team will evaluate speech distortions and tongue posture to understand improvements after treatment. Participants involvement aligns with their surgical check-ups to ensure reliable data without interference from post-surgical swelling or devices.

Orthognathic Speech Pathology: Phonetic Contrasts of Patients With Dental Discrepancies Pre- and Post-Treatment Analyses