This study aimed at characterizing the speech and chewing of users of conventional complete dentures (CCD) before and after speech therapy and prosthetic functional adaptation. The participants consisted of 10 users, divided into two groups: experimental (G1) and control (G2). Both groups underwent the same speech therapy and chewing evaluation before and 15 days after prosthetic functional adaptation; G1 underwent speech therapy in the period before prosthetic functional adaptation, and G2 underwent prosthetic functional adaptation without speech-language intervention. As observed, G1 presented 60% of participants with phonetic and/or articular distortions and inadequate cut of the food and 80% with unilateral chewing; after therapy, no speech and masticatory alterations were observed, but the altered cut was seen in 100% of the group. In G2, 80% of the participants had speech and chewing alterations and 40% had an inadequate cut. After the therapy period, 60% of the subjects remained with speech alterations and 100% with altered cut and chewing alterations. It can be concluded that after prosthetic functional adaptation, the group that underwent speech therapy did not present the alterations initially detected, except for the cut of the food, as opposed to G2 in which the changes persisted, showing that prosthetic rehabilitation alone, did not reestablish functional patterns, speech-language intervention being required.

A to investigate the major etiological agents that caused deafness in the studied population is of great relevance to prognostic and treatment purposes and it serves as sampling for future actions in the public health. Aim: to check the different hearing impairment etiologies of patients in the cochlear implant program; we studied the etiologies described in order to correlate etiology with age. Materials and Methods Results and conclusion:Unknown etiology prevailed as main cause, and this indicates the need to continue carrying out genetic studies in those cases of congenital sensorineural hearing loss without an apparent cause in order to trace and etiological profile. Rubella was the second most found cause, and for this etiology there already are preventive measures as there are for meningitis. Even then, the incidences of these diseases remain high. In the correlation of the different etiologies and age ranges, we noticed varied etiologies when we compared children, young adults, adults and the elderly. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;77(1):13-8. ORIGINAL ARTICLE BJORL