Relationship between occlusion and lisping in children with cleft lip and palate.

INTRODUCTION: The literature suggests that individuals with history of cleft lip and palate who present with midfacial growth deficiency are at higher risk of presenting lisping. The relationship between distortions during production of linguoalveolar fricative sounds and the severity of malocclusion, however, has not been established for the population with cleft. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between lisping and dental arch relationship. METHODOLOGY: Speech samples and dental arch casts were obtained from 106 children with operated unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) during the stage of mixed dentition and before orthodontic treatment. Videotaped productions of the phrase /u saci saiw sedu/ were rated by speech-language pathologists for the identification of lisping during [s]. Dental arch casts were rated by orthodontists using the Goslon Yardstick and the Five-Year Index to establish dental arch relationship. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression showed no significant association between lisping and dento-occlusal index (p  =  .802) and age (p  =  .662). Substantial interjudge agreement during auditory-perceptual ratings was found (kappa  =  .63). Almost perfect agreement was found between orthodontists while establishing the dental arch relationship (kappa  =  .81). DISCUSSION: This study failed to reveal an association between lisping and dental arch relationship in children with operated UCLP. Multiple variables may play a role in determining occurrence of lisping, warranting further investigation.