New concept for uvula manipulation to treat puberphonia

Abstract

Speech organs or articulators produce the sounds of language. The organs used for speech include the lips, teeth, alveolar bridge, hard palate, velum (soft palate), uvula, glottis, nasal cavity, pharynx and various parts of tongue. The vocal fold, in the larynx vibrates creating fluctuation in air pressure known as sound waves. The resonators of the mouth create formant regions and so different qualities sonorant (voiced) sound. We have a large series of vocal track vibrating endoscopic movie bank. We have created by treating 600 cases of puberphonia. We are able to record the change in the shape of the vocal tract and vibrating power of the airflow in the vocal tract. We are able to deduct and distinguish the different shape of the uvula and how airflow directed to the mouth by uvula. We are doing only uvula manipulation in treating puberphonia which gives immediate and persistent result. We are trying to bring out the importance of uvula in speech productions. The study concludes that the pharyngeal/uvula resonance manipulation therapy may be considered as an essential mode of treatment for puberphonia. Yet we like to inform that uvula is the structure in our body so little understood, so often abused and maligned.