Speech and lingual behavior before and after mandibular osteotomy.

A procedure was applied to compare the oral behavior of five patients before and after mandibular osteotomy for correction of Class III malocclusions. It was found that observable changes in oral behavior do occur after mandibular osteotomy. Fewer errors were found in sibilant articulation, while more maladaptive lingual behaviors were found in lingual diadochokinetic tasks. Changes were also found in swallowing behaviors. Performance tasks of speech, diadochokinetics, and swallowing were recorded on audio-videotape.