Changes in speech following unilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis in patients with hemifacial microsomia.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe changes in articulation, resonance, and velopharyngeal function following mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive, post hoc study comparing the performance of patients on measures of articulation, resonance, and velopharyngeal function before and after mandibular distraction.

SETTING

The data were collected at a tertiary health care center located in Chicago.

PATIENTS: The clinical data from preoperative and postoperative evaluations of seven mandibular distraction patients were used.

OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures were number of articulation errors, severity of hypernasality and audible nasal emission, and velopharyngeal orifice size as estimated using the pressure-flow technique.

RESULTS

Immediately after distraction, 28% (2/7) experienced a temporary deterioration in articulation and 42% (3/7) experienced a deterioration in nasal resonance. But by the long-term follow-up evaluation, all had returned to their preoperative levels. Pressure-flow test results generally support the perceptual findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients being considered for mandibular distraction surgery should receive preoperative and postoperative speech evaluations and be counseled about risks for changes in their speech following surgery.