The Role of the Velopharyngeal Sphincter in the Speech of Patients with Cleft Palate or Cleft Lip and Palate Using Perceptual Methods

Abstract

BACKGROUND:The velopharyngeal sphincter (VPS) plays the main role in speech formation. The cleft palate, due to the damage of the soft palate, leads to dysfunction of the velopharyngeal sphincter thus causing speech disorder.AIM:To establish a link between the nasal air escape and the perceptual symptoms in the speech of patients with cleft palate or cleft lip and palate using auditory-visual perceptual procedures for determining the influence the velopharyngeal dysfunction has on speech.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Twenty patients with speech disorders, out of which 10 have cleft palate or cleft lip and palate (experimental group), participated in the perceptual assessment by means of Czermak mirror fogging test for assessing the nasal air escape and Pittsburgh Weighted Speech Scale (PWSS) for assessing the probable nature of the velopharyngeal sphincter.RESULTS:The respondents with a considerable nasal air escape have a higher velopharyngeal inability, that is, probably incompetent nature of the velopharyngeal sphincter. There is a strong correlation between the nasal air escape and the probable nature of the velopharyngeal sphincter (the coefficient of linear correlation r = 0.9756). The calculated p-value is p = 0.000002.CONCLUSION:The perceptual speech symptoms and the nasal air escape provide unique insight into the state and role the velopharyngeal sphincter has in speech.

Is There a Relationship between Palatal Asymmetry and Speech in Children with Isolated Cleft Palate after Double-Opposing Z-Plasty?

“…Perceptual speech assessment by an experienced speech pathologist is still the standard for evaluating velopharyngeal function. 11,15 When velopharyngeal insufficiency was suspected in the subjective speech assessment, video fluoroscopy was performed to evaluate dynamic anatomical information of the velopharyngeal mechanism (including motion of the velum and pharyngeal walls). 26 Third, there could be errors in intraoperative measurement of the palatal dimensions.…”

“…Nasal emission was detected by looking for fogging in the mirror held under the nose during the production of pressure sounds, including plosives and fricative consonants. 2,11 Hypernasality and compensatory articulation were assessed clinically by perception using a standardized protocol in the Korean language (Urimal Test of Articulation and Phonology-2) and spontaneous speech samples. 12 All tests were performed by a single specialized speech-language pathologist at our institute.…”

Evaluación perceptual de la insuficiencia velofaríngea en personas con fisura del paladar: una revisión integradora de literatura

“…Los tres parámetros señalados previamente, son considerados en los parámetros universales para informar resultados de habla en personas con fisura del paladar descritos por Henningsson et al (2008). Además, Henningsson et al (2008) consideran la hiponasalidad, los trastornos de voz, la turbulencia nasal, la inteligibilidad del habla y la aceptabilidad del habla, los que también fueron descritos en algunos de los estudios identificados en esta revisión (Abdali & Yaribakht, 2019;Álvarez et al, 2004;Bettens et al, 2016;Chapman et al, 2016;de Boer et al, 2020;Georgievska-Jancheska et al, 2016;Hubbard et al, 2013;John et al, 2006;Keuning et al, 1999Keuning et al, , 2002Keuning et al, , 2004Konst et al, 2003;Kummer et al, 2003;Lipira et al, 2011;Nellis et al, 1992;Nguyen et al, 2015;Paniagua et al, 2013;Rullo et al, 2009;Scarmagnani et al, 2015;Sell et al, 2001Sell et al, , 2015Williams et al, 1998).…”

Language Sample Analysis in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate

“…TD children presented no history of language delay, neurological impairments, and congenital anomalies. Their parents completed the Age and Stage Questionnaire (ASQ) [15]. The Persian version of the ASQII is used for screening developmental disorders in children.…”