I have a two year old with quite an overbite. She also has lots of problems with articulation and we can't always understand what she is saying much less other people. Everything comes out distorted and almost unrecognizable. Her hearing has been checked and is fine. Could her overbite be interfering with her ability to form words correctly?
Yes, the overbite can certainly interfere with your daughter's ability to form words correctly. In fact, one of the many functions of the primary teeth is phonetics. Even though it's quite likely she has a genetic predisposition for the overbite, the thumbsucking will make the overbite worse!
While she is definitely below the age at which orthodontists generally begin treatment on children, it might not be a bad idea for a consult with your dentist and, possibly, an orthodontist. You might also ask your dentist about a speech therapist, although this sounds more like a structural, not necessarily a speech problem.
