Suction oral habits have been observed in childhood due to emotional and nutritional factors, leading to dental and speech and voice consequences. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was the observation of dental and speech and articulation abnormalities in low-income children with suction oral habits. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical non randomized study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Nine Brazilian children (8 girls and 1 boy) were examined in "I Mutirão da Comunicação" at Heliópolis Hospital, Hosphel/São Paulo, Brazil, on October 27, 2001. RESULTS: The most common speech and voice disorder detected was articulation impairment (55.56%), followed by oral motor disorder (33.33%). Open bite was detected in eight cases (88.89%). In seven cases (77.78%) we observed mouth breathing. CONCLUSIONS: Speech and articulation and dental disorders are normally detected in children with suction oral habits. The importance of interrelating dental, speech and otorhinolaryngology abnormalities in association with public health programs must be established for the low-income population.
suction oral habits; socioeconomic determinants; malocclusion; phonoaudiological disturbances
