Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of speech therapy for oral surgery patients with articulation disorders. We herein present and discuss our findings on the clinical evaluation of speech therapy for oral surgery patients. The patients enrolled in this study were treated in the 2nd Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Meikai University Hospital, between September 1, 2000 and August 31, 2005. In this study, a total of 156 patients were evaluated and/or managed with speech therapy. The results were as follows:
1. One hundred nine patients were diagnosed for congenital disorders. Eighty-nine of the patients had cleft palate accompanied with severe articulation disorders, and required more speech therapy than the remaining 20 patients without cleft palate.
2. Thirty-six patients had acquired disorders, resulting from surgical excision of oral carcinoma, benign tumor, etc. Severe articulation disorders were often recognized, in spite of reconstruction following extensive excision of oral carcinoma lesions, especially the lesions involving the floor of the oral cavity.
3. Only 9 patients had functional articulation disorders. Since their families expressed high motivation for the future of their child, speech therapy for the 9 young patients was conducted more frequentlythan the other patients.
4. There was only 1 case of dysarthria resulting from facial palsy.
