Relation between the production of the phoneme /ſ/ in complex onset and the stomatognathic system in preschool children

Abstract

This work verified the relation between the production of the phoneme /ſ/ in complex onset with the structure, the tone and the mobility of the stomatognathic system in preschool children. The study consisted of 73 preschool children of both sexes, aged between 5 years and 1 month and 5 years and 11 months divided into two groups, GC consisting of 36 children with a complete phonetic and phonological inventory and GCI by 37 Children who had not only acquired the phoneme /ſ/ in complex onset. Data collection was performed using the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation-MBGR protocol. The data were tabulated and submitted to the Chi-Square exact test and Fisher's exact test, considering p≤0.05. About the stomatognathic system, we observed a difference between the groups only in the task of tongue vibration. No significant difference for tonicity of the lips, tongue and cheeks and mobility of phonoarticulatory organs. We’re not identified difference comparing the results with the sex of the participants. Children who did not produce the phoneme /ſ/ in complex onset presented greater difficulty in performing tongue vibration.