EFFECTS OF RETAINERS ON THE ARTICULATION OF SPEECH

Articulation abilities of 15 patients were evaluated at the end of ort hodontic treatment with the initiation of removable upper and lower re tainer wear. A test of articulation, based on consonants and vowels (c v), (vcv), (vc), (eve) nonsense syllables, was used to evaluate the ar ticulatory distortions with no retainers and with maxillary and mandib ular retainers worn respectively and together. The test was performed (a) on the first day, (b) 24 hours later, and (c) 1 week later. Statis tically significant articulatory distortions with the /t/ and /d/ soun ds on the first day with upper retainer only and with both retainers w orn together were noted. Also significant distortion of the /k/ sound with both retainers worn was observed. These distortions, due to the w earing of retainers, decreased to an insignificant level or disappeare d completely on the seventh day showing the ability of tongue adaptati on in a very short period of time.