The velopharynx is a tridimensional muscular valve located between the oral and nasal cavities, consisting of the lateral and posterior pharyngeal walls and the soft palate, and controls the passage of air. Velopharyngeal insufficiency may take place when the velopharyngeal valve is unable to perform its own closing, due to a lack of tissue or lack of proper movement. Treatment options include ...

Clinical evaluation of velopharyngeal function relies heavily on auditory perceptual judgments that can be supported by instrumental examination of the velopharyngeal valve. Many of the current instrumental techniques are difficult to interpret, expensive, and/or unavailable to clinicians. Proposed in this report is a minimally invasive and inexpensive approach to evaluating velopharyngeal func...

As we have just seen, speech impairment is one of the most common findings in VCFS, occurring in at least 70% of cases (Shprintzen & Golding-Kushner, 2009). In this chapter, we discuss the sequelae, diagnosis, and management of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), the disorder that leads to hypernasality. Articulation and language impairment are discussed in terms of their interrelationship with...

Introduction: The most common type of velopharyngeal valve (VPV) closure is a matter of controversy.The aim of this study was to estimate the most common type of VPV closure, including identification of the type and grade of VPV closure among Egyptian children.  Materials and Methods: This study included patients who were candidates for adenotonsillectomy. In these cases, video-nasoendoscopy an...

Introduction The most common type of velopharyngeal valve (VPV) closure is a matter of controversy. The aim of this study was to estimate the most common type of VPV closure, including identification of the type and grade of VPV closure among Egyptian children. Materials and Methods This study included patients who were candidates for adenotonsillectomy. In these cases, video-nasoendoscopy an...

The timing of surgery for velopharyngeal dysfunction has been based on assumptions about the relation between age, speech development, and velopharyngeal dysfunction. Cleft palate teams often counsel parents to have an intervention for velopharyngeal dysfunction performed earlier rather than later, believing that earlier interventions result in more rapid or better normalization of speech. The ...

Pharyngeal obturator prostheses restore the congenital or acquired defects of the soft palate and allow adequate closure of palatopharyngeal sphincter. Two patients with soft palate defect and subsequent velopharyngeal insufficiency were rehabilitated using pharyngeal obturator prostheses which had different retention mechanisms. Since it is necessary for swallowing and intelligible speech, the...

The need for an interdisciplinary approach in the comprehensive management of individuals with cleft lip and palate is well recognized. This article provides an introduction to communication disorders in individuals with cleft lip and palate for members of cleft care teams. The speech pathologist is involved in identifying those infants who are at risk for communication disorders and also for i...

PURPOSE To investigate the correlation among velopharyngeal closure, hypernasality, audible nasal air emission (NAE) and nasal rustle (NR), in individuals with repaired cleft palate. METHODS One hundred patients with repaired cleft palate and lip, submitted to pressure-flow study for measurement of velopharyngeal orifice area (velopharyngeal area) and speech sample recordings. Velopharyngeal ...