Speech Performance of Rugby Players When Using Different Types of Mouthguard

Speech Performance of Rugby Players When Using Different Types of Mouthguard

Participation in contact sports is linked to an increased risk of dental injuries. To reduce the risk and severity of sports-related dental injuries, mouthguards are often recommended to be worn during training and competition. However, athletes often complain that they cannot talk properly when using mouthguards. It is hypothesized that speech performance differs when using different types of mouthguards. A group of female national rugby players will be asked to pronounce four Malay words with plosive sounds (/p/, /b/, /d/ and /t/) repeatedly in three conditions: (i) when not using any mouthguard, (ii) when using 'boil and bite' mouthguard, and (iii) when using custom-fitted mouthguard. The sounds will be recorded for spectrographic analysis. The difference in mean voice onset time between conditions will be assessed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult female aged 18 years old and older
• currently representing the nation and participating actively in rugby
• native speakers of Malay (national language)

Exclusion Criteria:

• did not play rugby within the last six months
• edentulism
• used a mouthguard, orthodontic appliance or removable prosthodontics appliance within the last six months
• known history of allergy to polymers
• medical problems (ASA classification 3 and above)