“Speech therapy or braces first?”
My teeth seem to be aligned incorrectly. According to my doctor this is causing my speech problem. Should I get braces first or try speech therapy first? I am fine with how my teeth look, but if they are interfering with my speech then I'm not sure which route to take.
13 Answers
Hi,
Usually, speech patterns are learned, and tooth position doesn't necessarily cause it. Without seeing you and your bite, though, it is impossible to say for sure. If you are not unhappy with your teeth and their appearance, I would speak to a speech pathologist first.
Good luck!
Dr. Fader
Usually, speech patterns are learned, and tooth position doesn't necessarily cause it. Without seeing you and your bite, though, it is impossible to say for sure. If you are not unhappy with your teeth and their appearance, I would speak to a speech pathologist first.
Good luck!
Dr. Fader
Some orthodontic problems may contribute to speech problems. However there is no guarantee that if you do undergo orthodontic treatment your speech problem will go away. If your main concern is the speech then you should seek treatment from a speech therapist but if your main concern is the alignment of your teeth you should see the Orthodontist first.
It’s difficult to say without seeing what the problem with your teeth might be, however most commonly, if your teeth are interfering with your tongue space, they can affect your speech. If you move them around and allow your tongue to move more freely, that might correct your speech problem.
If it has already been determined that the position of your teeth is contributing to the speech problem then I would recommend doing the Orthodontics first
Why not do both! It will shorten your overall time in treatment if you progress with both therapies at the same time. Tell your Orthodontist to coordinate with your speech therapist for best results!
It is very common to have both treatments at the same time. If your teeth are indeed contributing to your speech pathology it is probably best for you to move forward with the treatment to correct your teeth at this time and discuss the speech issue with your orthodontist while there.
I would suggest braces first and then speech therapy.
I would recommend seeing an orthodontist to have them evaluate this and to see if aligning your teeth could help with the speech impedement.
Speech articulation can be very influenced by teeth position. Have your bite and tongue posture evaluated by orthodontist first. If there is a problem, have it corrected first then speech therapy. Sometimes speech therapy during treatment.
Ortho first to assess. Orthos work closely with speech therapists, but function follows form and if teeth are positioned badly, this can affect the ability of the lips and tongue to make particular sounds. Once the teeth are aligned, much easier.
Is your doctor a physician or a dentist? It is unusual for a bad bite to cause a speech problem all by itself. You should schedule an initial examination with an orthodontist first. Most orthodontists have a speech therapist they work with on complex problems.
Sorry, but without seeing you in person it would be difficult to say what is contributing to your speech problems. If your orthodontist believes the current position of your teeth is causing the problem, then I would ask how this can improve your speech. Orthodontics may help correct speech difficulties, and I recommend working with a speech therapist during orthodontic treatment. Sometimes we ask our patients to begin training your tongue into a new position prior, during, or after orthodontic treatment. This is cases by case. Hope this helps... Dr. B.
Thank you for your question. We see patients in my office with this situation. I would suggest getting a consultation for braces to see what options you have available. In some cases, we work along with the speech therapist.
