Vertical Dimension during Swallowing and Speech Pattern in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

측두하악장애환자에서 연하고경과 발음양상에 관한 연구

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between vertical dimension during swallowing and speech pattern in patients with temporomandibular disorders. For this study, 33 patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMDs), namely, 17 patients with disc displacement with reduction and 16 patients with disc displacement without reduction, and 30 normal subjects without any signs and symptoms in the masticatory system were selected as the patient group and as the normal group, respectively. Biopak $system^{(R)}$(Bioresearch Inc., Milwaukee, USA) was used for recording of electromyographic(EMG) activity(${\mu}V$) of the anterior temporalis, the superficial masseter, the sternocleidomastoideus and the trapezius insertion muscle during swallowing, and of mandibular positional change with function time(sec.) during swallowing and speech. A sentence of 'Sue is missing her house' was used for observing of speech pattern. Comparison between the two groups and relationship of the mandibular positional change and the function time between during swallowing and during speech were analysed by SPSS windows program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. Mean EMG activity of the trapezius insertion during swallowing was higher in the patient group, and the value was $3.4{\mu}V$ in patients and $2.1{\mu}V$ in normal subjects. 2. Vertica1 dimension(VD) at mandibular rest position before swallowing was slightly higher in the patient group, but VD at swallowing-late stage and at rest position after swallowing were not different between the two groups. 3. Swallowing time were 2.1 sec. in the patient group, and 1.5 sec. in the normal group, and the difference was significant. 4. VD during speech were generally higher in the normal group. In this case, speaking position showing the most difference between the two groups was 'her' position. The distance from habitual intercuspal position to 'her' position was 4.9mm in the patient group, and 6.6mm in the normal group. Speaking time was also longer in the patient group. 5. There were no difference in all observed items between the two categories of the patient group according to reduction of disc displacement. 6. Relationship between the positional changes during swallowing and speech were different between the patient group and the normal group. And in the normal group, VD at rest position before swallowing was negatively correlated with speaking time.