Purpose: Lateral bracing occurs when the tongue makes contact against the teeth and palate during articulation of speech sounds. Lateral bracing is critical in providing the lingual stability necessary for accurate articulation. Research suggests that lateral bracing is a consistent and effortful process in the typical production of most speech sounds. However, few interventions propose to improve lateral bracing in clients with speech sound disorders. This study aimed to assess the impact of oromyofunctional therapy on lateral bracing in school-aged children with persistent speech sound errors involving the pre-vocalic /r/ sound. Method: The effect of oromyofunctional therapy on isolated pre-vocalic/r/ production and perceptual accuracy by listeners were examined using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design with three participants between 9 and 15 years of age. The participants received oromyofunctional therapy sessions two times a week for 4 weeks, each session lasting 45 minutes. Electropalatography evaluation were used to measure palatal contact during speech and a perceptual analysis of /r/ productions was conducted before and after treatment. Results: The investigation yielded promising results, as two of the three participants significantly improved lateral bracing during isolated pre-vocalic/r/ productions. Futhermore, perceptual analysis of /r/ production for all three participants improved after the treatment sessions. Discussion: While this investigation does not provide definitive evidence supporting its efficacy in improving lateral bracing, it may provide information that may help guide clinical practice and future research.
