{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.968354430379747, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Speech changes following orthodontic treatment with the functional regulator.

Cleft palate children exhibiting maxillary segment collapse underwent orthodontic treatment with the Functional Regulator (FR). Audio and video recordings of speech were obtained periodically in conjunction with appliance management. Judges evaluated the recordings obtained with and without the FR in place by assessing speech intelligibility, resonance and nasal emission. Results indicated: a) changes in maxillary width and cross-bite relationships were not clinically significant; b) articulation, hypernasality and nasal emission were judged to be significantly more severe during appliance wear; c) video taped speech samples were judged to be significantly less intelligible than audio taped samples; d) a substantial amount of accommodation to the FR occurred at one-two weeks post insertion, but maximum improvement in speech intelligibility occurred over the period evaluated; and e) good speech production skills prior to orthodontic treatment minimised the adverse effect of the FR on speech intelligibility.