West China Journal of Stomatology ›› 2020, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 662-666.doi: 10.7518/hxkq.2020.06.010

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Velopharyngeal closure pattern and speech characteristics of patients congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency

Wang Xi(), Guo Chunli, Shi Bing, Yin Heng()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Dept. of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
  • Received:2020-01-20 Revised:2020-05-06 Online:2020-12-01 Published:2020-12-07
  • Contact: Yin Heng E-mail:904216528@qq.com;phoebeyin@126.com
  • Supported by:
    Clinical New Technology Project of West China Hospital of Stomatology(LCXJS2017-9)

Abstract:

Objective To analyze velopharyngeal closure patterns and speech characteristics of patients with congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency. Methods Patients visiting the Department of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University between 2009 and 2017 were reviewed. Outcomes of subjective speech evaluation, including resonance, consonant articulation, and correction rate, were analyzed. Furthermore, the mobility of soft palate and pharyngeal walls under nasopharyngeal fiberscope were analyzed retrospectively. Results A total of 47 cases were retrieved and subjected to nasopharyngeal fiberscopic examination. Among them, 29 (61.7%) demonstrated a circular closure pattern, 16 (34.0%) showed a coronal pattern, and 2 (4.3%) had a sagittal pattern. Furthermore, 25 (53.2%) presented medium soft-palate mobility, 22 (46.8%) had weak lateral pharyngeal wall mobility, and 41 (87.2%) had no posterior pharyngeal wall mobility. Among all of the patients, 23 (48.9%) presented medium hypernasality, accounting for the highest proportion. Consonant misarticulation occurred in 89.4% of the cases. The articulation manners with the highest correction rate were in the following order: nasal, lateral, fricatives, stops, and affricates. The articulation places with the highest correction rate were in the following order: bilabial, alveolar, velar, and linguadental. Conclusion Circular closure was the most prevalent velopharyngeal closure pattern among patients with congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency, and consonant omission was the most common articulation abnormality.

Key words: congenital velopharyngeal insufficiency, velopharyngeal closure pattern, cleft palate speech

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