From Volume 45, Issue 9, October 2018 | Pages 795-803
This article outlines how sounds are produced and how speech and language develop, in the child. The assessment of speech by a speech and language therapist is briefly described. It then discusses the evidence for an impact of occlusion, and the loss or absence of teeth on speech. In summary, there is a possibility that the loss, absence or malalignment of teeth may affect speech, but unfortunately the evidence base is weak.
Language is the human ability to learn and use complex methods of communication. It allows humans to structure thinking and reasoning, and contributes to human identity. Communication exists in many forms, for example: written, heard, read, gestural and non-verbal. Speech (spoken language) is one way to express language and can be described as a mechanism of conveying thoughts into words by producing sounds. This article will focus on the relationship between verbal communication and dentistry.
The aetiology of speech disorders is complex and multifactorial, however, it is well documented that the development of speech and speech disorders have a genetic component. Four chromosomal regions on chromosomes 2, 13, 16 and 19 have been identified as being potentially involved in common forms of speech impairment. One of the first genes implicated in speech and language disorders was FOXP2, which regulates several other genes that have also been implicated in these disorders. This gene is found on chromosome 7 and has been definitely linked to language production, but only in relation to an extremely rare speech and language disorder (monogenetic inheritance). It does not appear to be involved in the more common forms of language impairment and further research is needed into the complex genetic basis of speech disorders.1
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