Three monosyllables for standard words in Nasometer test: to evaluate air leakage in maxillectomy patients.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to establish an evaluation method using a Nasometer, with several monosyllabic test words, to reveal the level of air leakage in maxillectomy patients without limitations due to language or ability to read. METHODS 20 normal Japanese (Group 1) and 20 international adults (Group 2), were asked to read 7 monosyllables, (5 vowels and 2 combined vowels, /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, /o/, /am/, /aj/), 6 times each and 12 Japanese maxillectomy patients (Group 3) were asked to read only 3 monosyllables (/a/, /am/, /aj/) 6 times each. The "Nasalance Score" was calculated using a Nasometer (Nasometer II, model 6400 KayPentax, Lincoln Park, NJ, USA). RESULTS Coefficient of variations (CVs) of three monosyllables /a/, /am/, /aj/ of Group 1 and Group 2 showed less than 0.33. There is significant difference in all pairs of three monosyllables between Group 1 and Group 3 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Using a Nasometer, these three monosyllables, /a/, /am/ and /aj/, could be used as standard test words and could reveal the level of air leakage in maxillectomy patients.