Hello!
I need some help. I suffer from deep occlusion (like in these 2 pictures).
It's hard for me to pronounce sounds like [ð] and [θ] ("this theatre", for example), because I have to pull forward my lower jaw to make interdental consonant sounds. It results in constant muscle tension, so it's hard for me to speak fluently. There are no interdental sounds in my native language, so I have 2 questions:

1. Deep occlusion is rather common condition. May be you pronounce these sounds differently somehow, put the tongue in a different position or your muscles just got used to this constant tension?

2. Do you know any books/articles about "malocclusion/pronunciation" problem?[Image]

Question

Hello!
I need some help. I suffer from deep occlusion (like in these 2 pictures).
 It's hard for me to pronounce sounds like [ð] and [θ] ("this theatre", for example), because I have to pull forward my lower jaw to make interdental consonant sounds. It results in constant muscle tension, so it's hard for me to speak fluently. There are no interdental sounds in my native language, so I have 2 questions:

1. Deep occlusion is rather common condition. May be you pronounce these sounds differently somehow, put the tongue in a different position or your muscles just got used to this constant tension?

2. Do you know any books/articles about "malocclusion/pronunciation" problem?[Image]

Answer

Valerie,  You do not have to move forward your lower teeth for the th sounds. Just use the tip of your tongue to touch under the upper front teeth. However, you have to move your lower teeth forward for sh,  ch, zh and z sounds.

Answer

Dear Valeria, This sounds like a very frustrating problem for you. You know WHAT you need to say in English, but your mouth is affecting HOW to say it correctly. In my 10 years experience as an accent coach, many Russian speakers struggle to say the TH sounds, even without occlusion issues. This sound doesn't exist in Russian, so you may be confusing it with /s/, example: Think/sink, sick/thick.

I'm not a speech therapist, who would be the best qualified to help you,  but I do know a lot about muscle training to reach target sounds.  You can train your articulators because they are muscles. However, it takes consistent, daily effort. I have a streamlined technique that I used with my students to practice this sound and I provide daily exercises.  One of these includes pronouncing the /s/ with the tongue down, behind lower back teeth and then switching to the /th/ with the tongue between your teeth. sss-ththth-sss-ththth- miss this, kiss that, bless them. Please try that and maybe we can work together for 40 minutes to help you learn more about these exercises.

Best,
Ms. Morgan

P.S. I haven't read this article, but it seems interesting:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304633072_Malocclusion_and_its_relationship_to_speech_sound_production_Redefining_the_effect_of_malocclusal_traits_on_sound_production

Answer

Hi Valeria☺️ I am a dental surgery student and also have a deep occlusion. As an English native speaker I'd be happy to help you with such pronunciations. Please feel free to message me.