The Relationship Between the Characteristics of Speech and Velopharyngeal Gap Size

Abstract

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceptual characteristics of hypernasality, nasal emission and nasal rustle, and size of the velopharyngeal gap. Design: A retrospective medical chart review. Setting: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Subjects: Subjects were patients of the Craniofacial Anomaly Team. All were between ages 3 and 12 years and diagnosed with velopharyngeal dysfunction secondary to cleft palate ± cleft lip. A total of 173 charts were reviewed. Outcome Measures: Speech characteristics were assessed perceptually by an experienced speech-language pathologist. Following that assessment, velopharyngeal closure was evaluated using videofluoroscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, or both. Results: Based on the perceptual ratings alone, 21 subjects were diagnosed with nasal rustle only, 27 had hypernasality with nasal rustle, 89 had hypernasality with nasal emission without nasal rustle, and 36 had hypernasality with no audible nasal emission. An...