[Dyslalias associated to maloclussion in schoolchildren].

Background: The test for evaluating phonological simplification processes (TEPROSIF, according to its initials in Spanish) is a tool which is used to identify dyslalias. Our objective was to establish, by using TEPROSIF, the association between dyslalias and malocclusion in children from 4 to 6 years of age.

Methods: After we standardized the tool with a kappa of 0.9, we applied it to 116 children from 4 to 6 years of age. Patients were conducted to a central occlusion through deglutition. We observed type of bite, overbite, occlusion and terminal plane in order to relate them to the dyslalia presented. For statistical analysis, we used chi-squared test (p < 0.05).

Results: They were 55 (47.4 %) boys and 61 (52.6 %) girls, with a median age of 5 years ± 0.71. Phoneme substitution was the most common alteration. We found significant correlation between omission of the phonemes and terminal plane (p = 0.01), Baume type I arch (p = 0.00) and absence of teeth (p = 0.00), as well as between phoneme substitution and terminal plane (p = 0.03), bite type (p = 0.01) and absence of teeth (p = 0.00).

Conclusions: Phoneme substitution is the most common alteration, followed by omission and distortion of phonemes in children between 4 and 6 years of age.