A Comparative Study Evaluating Speech Outcomes in Classic versus Occult Submucous Cleft Palate Using a Primary Furlow Palatoplasty Technique.

BACKGROUND: No consensus exists on the selection of procedures for the treatment of submucous cleft palate, with scarce reports on long-term outcomes from single-surgeon experience. This study assessed the outcomes of using extended indication criteria of Furlow palatoplasty as the first-line procedure for the management of submucous cleft palate-associated velopharyngeal insufficiency. METHODS: Consecutive nonsyndromic patients with submucous cleft palate (n = 216) treated by a single surgeon between 1998 and 2018 were reviewed. Furlow palatoplasty was performed in all patients diagnosed with submucous cleft palate-associated velopharyngeal insufficiency, regardless of the age cutoff, number of Calnan triad features, or velopharyngeal gap size and pattern. Postoperative velopharyngeal function outcome (adequate, marginal, or inadequate) and the need for secondary surgery were investigated. Age at surgery, sex, submucous cleft palate type (classic and occult), and presence of complication were evaluated for potential associations with this outcome. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients aged 8.3 ± 4.6 years with occult submucous cleft palate were significantly (p < 0.001) older than those with the classic type (n = 169; 5.6 ± 3.1 years). Most (p < 0.001) of the included patients [n = 181 (83.8 percent)] achieved adequate postoperative velopharyngeal function outcome. Three patients (1.4 percent) presented surgery-related complications, including bleeding and partial wound disruption. Secondary speech surgery was recommended in 24 patients (11.1 percent). In the bivariate and multivariate analyses, none of the tested variables was found to be associated (all p > 0.05) with the postoperative velopharyngeal function outcome. CONCLUSION: The extended indication criteria of Furlow palatoplasty provided adequate velopharyngeal insufficiency management with a low complication rate and satisfactory speech outcome. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

A new training method for velopharyngeal dysfunction: Self-inhalation for hypernasality.

OBJECTIVE: There are various methods to treat velopharyngeal dysfunction including　surgery and rehabilitation therapy. Even if a rehabilitation program is effective, the evaluation of its efficacy remains subjective. In this paper, we propose a new method of rehabilitation training for velopharyngeal dysfunction focusing on the objective peak inspiratory flow (PIF) rate. METHODS: Four patients, who were diagnosed with velopharyngeal dysfunction without cleft palate at ENT clinic of the National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, participated in this study. All patients underwent our original rehabilitation program for velopharyngeal dysfunction, a method using the In-Check Dial, Turbohaler model. As a self-training rehabilitation program, we asked them to inhale forcefully 10 times daily at home using the In-Check Dial to increase the value of PIF rate for 3 months. We measured the patients' PIF rates with the In-Check Dial at the ENT clinic at the initial visit and after the 3-month training. RESULTS: The PIF rates of the four patients without nasal clips were higher than the rates with nasal clips at the initial visit. After the training, PIF rate without a nasal clip of all patients increased than the rate at the initial visit, which represented significant difference (P < 0.05). Also, after 3 months, PIF rate without a nasal clip was higher or equal than the rates with a nasal clip at the initial visit except one case. Naso-pharyngo-laryngeal fiberscopy did not detect salivary pooling around larynx and mirror fogging test did not show nasal escape in the three of four patients after 3 months of training. All reported improvement in dysphagia and dysarthria. CONCLUSION: This new method can be used not only to evaluate velopharyngeal function but also as an effective self-training treatment.

Pharyngeal Obturator Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency.

Congenital or acquired defects of soft palate cause physical, functional and psychological disabilities. Surgical closure or prosthetic rehabilitation are the two treatment modalities. If surgery is contraindicated, prosthetic rehabilitation is the alternative treatment option. Pharyngeal obturator prosthesis provides adequate closure of the velopharyngeal insufficiency. In this case report, a young patient is treated for velopharyngeal insufficiency with pharyngeal obturator as the patient had refused to undergo surgical closure. The prosthesis was successfully fabricated and was evaluated for proper functioning. It improved speech, deglutition and psychological well-being of the patient.

Resultados de habla en la rehabilitación protésica de la insuficiencia velofaríngea secundaria a fisura palatina: reporte de caso / Speech results in prosthetic rehabilitation of velopharyngeal insufficiency secondary to cleft palate: case report

RESUMEN La insuficiencia velofaríngea (IVF) corresponde a cualquier defecto estructural del paladar blando o de las paredes de la faringe, caracterizado por la ausencia de tejido suficiente para lograr un cierre adecuado del mecanismo velofaríngeo durante el habla, lo que genera resonancia hipernasal y emisión nasal. En los casos de fisura con compromiso de paladar, el tratamiento para corregir la IVF puede ser quirúrgico o protésico, acompañado de intervención fonoaudiológica, pues la corrección física no elimina las alteraciones funcionales. Se presentan los resultados de habla obtenidos en un adulto hablante chileno diagnosticado con IVF secundaria a fisura palatina, rehabilitado en Fundación Gantz con prótesis de paladar obturadora y tratamiento fonoaudiológico. La evaluación mediante análisis perceptivo auditivo y nasometría evidencia una mejora del mecanismo velofaríngeo durante el habla.

ABSTRACT The velopharyngeal insufficiency (IVF) corresponds to any structural defect of the soft palate or the walls of the pharynx, where there is not enough tissue to achieve an adequate closure of the velopharyngeal mechanism during speech, generating hypernasal resonance and nasal emission. In cases of cleft palate, the treatment to correct IVF may be surgical or prosthetic, accompanied by speech therapy. The speech results obtained in a native speaker of Chilean Spanish diagnosed with IVF secondary to cleft palate, rehabilitated in Fundación Gantz with a palatal obturator (speech bulb) and speech therapy are presented. The evaluation by auditory perceptual analysis and nasometry show an improvement of the velopharyngeal mechanism during speech.

Normal Speech Should be the Expected Outcome in the Adopted Cleft Child.

Significantly worse speech outcomes and higher complication rates are reported among internationally adopted cleft patients. We evaluated our cohort to provide more accurate counseling to adoptive parents. METHODS: We reviewed internationally adopted children with unrepaired cleft palate who had 2-flap palatoplasty with radical intravelarveloplasty from 2003 to 2015 in a single-surgeon, consecutive series. RESULTS: Seventy-two children adopted with unrepaired cleft palate were identified, 2 with syndromic association. The average age at palatoplasty was 28.1 months. Meaningful speech assessment was available in 58 patients. Successful speech was defined by a competent or borderline-competent velopharyngeal mechanism (Pittsburgh Weighted Speech Score <2). Twenty-five patients (43%) had successful speech outcomes. Twenty-nine patients (50%) were recommended secondary operation for nasality. Nonfistula repair secondary operation was performed using the following: fat grafting (9 patients, 43%), intravelarveloplasty (8 patients, 38%), and sphincter pharyngoplasty (4 patients, 19%). The average Pittsburgh Weighted Speech Score improved 5.8 to 1.3 (P = 1.3E-6); 4.8 to 1.0 (P = 0.0009) with fat grafting alone. After all interventions, normal speech was achieved in 43 (74%) of 58 patients. Palatal fistula (9.2% vs 0.9%, P = 0.001) and velopharyngeal insufficiency (50% vs 6.7%, P = 0.0004) rates were both significantly higher in the internationally adopted cohort than our nonadopted population data. The need for secondary surgery was independent of cleft type (P = 0.89), age (P = 0.78), or presence of a "wide" cleft (P = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate higher fistula and secondary surgery rates. Successful speech outcomes were achieved in most patients with minimally invasive secondary procedures.

Correção de fissura palatina com retalho músculo mucoso de bucinador: resultados de 6 casos após 27 anos / Correction of palatine fistulas with a musculo-mucosal buccinator flap: results of 6 cases after 27 years

Introdução: O retalho miomucoso de músculo bucinador, descrito em 1989, pode ser utilizado para corrigir fístulas palatinas, fissuras com alongamento do palato mole ou cobrir áreas cruentas após ressecções de tumores. Métodos: Trata-se da análise do resultado após 27 anos de 6 casos de pacientes operados no Hospital de Base e na Santa Casa de São José do Rio Preto, no período de 1984 a 1989, e reavaliados em 2016, nos quais foram realizados retalhos miomucosos de bucinador para correção de fissura palatina. Resultados: Dos 36 casos operados, 6 foram reavaliados após 27 anos, dos quais 5 trataram-se de correção primária e 1 de correção secundária (fístula após fechamento de fissura palatina). Todos os casos obtiveram resultados satisfatórios no crescimento maxilar, na correção da fistula palatina e na função da fala. Conclusão: Apesar de estatisticamente não significativo, o presente estudo demonstrou que o retalho miomucoso de músculo bucinador para correção e alongamento do palato é um procedimento adequado, com resultados de crescimento maxilar normal ou próximo disso e fala praticamente normal, mesmo sem adequado tratamento fonoaudiológico.

Introduction: The buccal musculo-mucosal patch, described in 1989, can be used to correct palatine fistulas and fissures with stretching of the soft palate, or to cover bloody areas after tumor resection. Methods: This is an analysis of the 27-year postoperative results for 6 patients who underwent operation at Base Hospital and Santa Casa de São José do Rio Preto between 1984 and 1989, and reassessed in 2016, when a myo-buccinator mucosa was used for cleft palate correction. Results: Of the 36 operated cases, 6 were reevaluated after 27 years, of which 5 had primary correction and 1 had a secondary correction (fistula after cleft palate closure). All the cases had satisfactory results in terms of maxillary growth, correction of the palatine fistula, and speech function. Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, the present study demonstrated that the buccal musculo-mucosal flap is an adequate procedure for correction and stretching of the palate, with normal or near-normal maxillary growth and practically normal speech even without adequate phono-audiological treatment.

[Outcome and influential factors of speech therapy delivered to cleft patients with post-operative velopharyngeal competence].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the training technique, intervention timing, and other related factors involved in the speech therapy delivered to cleft patients with velopharyngeal competence after surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 32 patients who received phonology-articulation speech therapies during 2012 to 2013 in Dept. of Cleft Lip and Palate, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University. All patients achieved normal speech one year after therapy. Information collected included the types and number of consonant articulation error, the overall period of training, the interval between surgery and speech training, and the age during speech training. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: Ten patients received less than five sessions of training, seventeen received six to ten sessions, and five received eleven to twenty sessions. The number of sessions was positively correlated with the number of errors (r(s)=0.394, P=0.026). On the average, each additional error cost another 0.570 session for correction (confidence interval: 0.137-1.004). Moreover, the number of sessions was negatively correlated with age (P=0.055). Patients between 5 to 10 years old took significantly lesser sessions than those above 10 years. No correlation was found between the number of sessions and the interval between surgeries and trainings. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate speech therapy efficiently rehabilitate the speech condition of cleft patients with velopharyngeal sufficiency after surgery. The number of errors is directly proportional to the number of sessions needed. Patients above 10 years require more sessions than those less than 10 years.

Vocal Loudness as Contributory to the Occurrence of Obligatory Posterior Nasal Turbulence.

Two cases are presented that show increased loudness as contributory to the occurrence of audible posterior nasal turbulence as an obligatory symptom. Case 1 was an 18-month-old boy with repaired cleft palate who exhibited sporadic posterior nasal turbulence with velar flutter that was associated with increased loudness. Case 2 was a 4-year-old boy with repaired cleft palate who exhibited relatively frequent posterior nasal turbulence with velar flutter that was associated with pervasive and excessive loudness. Following 3 therapy sessions, loudness was reduced and audible nasal turbulence was eliminated. Clinical implications are discussed.

Speech outcomes at 5 and 10 years of age after one-stage palatal repair with muscle reconstruction in children born with isolated cleft palate.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate speech outcomes in children with clefts in the hard and/or soft palate only (CPH/CPS), in order to determine the prevalence of cleft speech characteristics, the change between 5 and 10 years of age, and the difference in occurrence between CPH and CPS. METHODS: A consecutive series of 88 children born with CPH or CPS were included in a retrospective cohort. All participants were treated with one-stage palatal repair using a minimal incision technique with muscle reconstruction (mean age 13 months). Twelve children (14%) received a velopharyngeal flap. Cleft speech variables were rated at 5 and 10 years of age independently by three experienced external speech-language pathologists. Inter- and intra-rater agreements were determined, and the prevalence of cleft speech characteristics was calculated. RESULTS: Moderate-to-severe hypernasality and weak pressure consonants were present in 5%-10% of the children at 5 years, with marginal but statistically significant improvement at 10 years of age. Frequently or always occurring audible nasal air leakage was detected in 20% of children at age 5, and increased to ∼35% of the children at 10 years. Ten per cent had compensatory articulation at age 5, and 25% demonstrated s-distortions, whereas few had these problems at age 10. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate low occurrence of compensatory articulation problems in this cohort, even by 5 years of age. The high presence of symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency at 10 years of age suggests a need for additional secondary velopharyngeal surgery.

Prosthodontic Management of Palatopharyngeal Incompetency - A Case Report on Palatal Lift Prosthesis.

The palatal lift prostheses (PLP) are commonly used in the prosthetic management of palatopharyngeal incompetency. These prostheses work by lifting the soft palate upward and backward and also have physical and psychological benefits. In this case report, a PLPwas provided to the patient for her speech problems. The soft palate was mechanically lifted upward and backward. PLPreduced the diameter of palatopharyngeal sphincter. This decreased the dysarthria and led to an increase in patient confidence. Surgically repaired cleft palate of this patient with hyper-nasality was successfully managed with PLP. It was concluded that PLP is acceptable and effective in the prosthodontic management of palatopharyngeal incompetency.

Video Game Rehabilitation of Velopharyngeal Dysfunction: A Case Series.

Purpose: Video games provide a promising platform for rehabilitation of speech disorders. Although video games have been used to train speech perception in foreign language learners and have been proposed for aural rehabilitation, their use in speech therapy has been limited thus far. We present feasibility results from at-home use in a case series of children with velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) using an interactive video game that provided real-time biofeedback to facilitate appropriate nasalization. Method: Five participants were recruited across a range of ages, VPD severities, and VPD etiologies. Participants completed multiple weeks of individual game play with a video game that provides feedback on nasalization measured via nasal accelerometry. Nasalization was assessed before and after training by using nasometry, aerodynamic measures, and expert perceptual judgments. Results: Four participants used the game at home or school, with the remaining participant unwilling to have the nasal accelerometer secured to his nasal skin, perhaps due to his young age. The remaining participants showed a tendency toward decreased nasalization after training, particularly for the words explicitly trained in the video game. Conclusion: Results suggest that video game-based systems may provide a useful rehabilitation platform for providing real-time feedback of speech nasalization in VPD. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5116828.

Osteoradionecrosis Following Carbon Ion Radiotherapy: Case History Report of a Soft Palate Defect.

Carbon ion radiotherapy, a form of charged particle radiotherapy that has been used to treat various inoperable and radio-resistant tumors, has been associated with less severe late effects than conventional radiotherapy. A 63-year-old woman with a soft palate defect received carbon ion radiotherapy (total dose: 64 Gray equivalents). Several late effects were observed, and osteoradionecrosis was observed not only on the tumor side but also on the other side and gradually expanded during maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. While the definitive prosthesis improved her speech and eating ability, careful adjustments and close follow-up should continue with respect to postradiation effects.

Perceptual Assessment of Velopharyngeal Dysfunction by Otolaryngology Residents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of otolaryngology residents to rate the hypernasal resonance of patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction. We hypothesize that experience (postgraduate year [PGY] level) and training will result in improved ratings of speech samples. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Otolaryngology training programs at 2 academic medical centers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty otolaryngology residents (PGY 1-5) were enrolled in the study. All residents rated 30 speech samples at 2 separate times. Half the residents completed a training module between the rating exercises, with the other half serving as a control group. Percentage agreement with the expert rating of each speech sample and intrarater reliability were calculated for each resident. Analysis of covariance was used to model accuracy at session 2. RESULTS: The median percentage agreement at session 1 was 53.3% for all residents. At the second session, the median scores were 53.3% for the control group and 60% for the training group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Intrarater reliability was moderate for both groups. Residents were more accurate in their ratings of normal and severely hypernasal speech. There was no correlation between rating accuracy and PGY level. Score at session 1 positively correlated with score at session 2. CONCLUSION: Perceptual training of otolaryngology residents has the potential to improve their ratings of hypernasal speech. Length of time in residency may not be best predictor of perceptual skill. Training modalities incorporating practice with hypernasal speech samples could improve rater skills and should be studied more extensively.

Influence of speech sample on perceptual rating of hypernasality. / Influência da amostra de fala na classificação perceptiva da hipernasalidade.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of speech sample of spontaneous conversation or sentences repetition on intra and inter-rater hypernasality reliability. METHODS: One hundred and twenty audio recorded speech samples (60 containing spontaneous conversation and 60 containing repeated sentences) of individuals with repaired cleft palate±lip, both genders, aged between 6 and 52 years old (mean=21±10) were selected and edited. Three experienced speech and language pathologists rated hypernasality according to their own criteria using 4-point scale: 1=absence of hypernasality, 2=mild hypernasality, 3=moderate hypernasality and 4=severe hypernasality, first in spontaneous speech samples and 30 days after, in sentences repetition samples. Intra- and inter-rater agreements were calculated for both speech samples and were statistically compared by the Z test at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Comparison of intra-rater agreements between both speech samples showed an increase of the coefficients obtained in the analysis of sentences repetition compared to those obtained in spontaneous conversation. Comparison between inter-rater agreement showed no significant difference among the three raters for the two speech samples. CONCLUSION: Sentences repetition improved intra-raters reliability of perceptual judgment of hypernasality. However, the speech sample had no influence on reliability among different raters.

Speech characteristics after articulation therapy in children with cleft palate and velopharyngeal dysfunction - A single case experimental design.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an intensive 10-week course of articulation therapy on articulation errors in cleft lip and palate patients who have Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI), non-oral and passive cleft speech characteristics. METHODS: Five children with cleft palate (+/-cleft lip) with VPI and non-oral and passive cleft speech characteristics underwent 40 intensive articulation therapies over 10 weeks in a single case experimental design. The percentage of non-oral CSCs (NCSCs), passive CSCs (PCSCs), stimulable consonants (SC), correct consonants in word imitation (CCI), and correct consonants in picture naming (CCN) were captured at baseline, during intervention and in follow up phases. Visual analysis and two effect size indexes of Percentage of Nonoverlapping Data and Percentage of Improvement Rate Difference were analyzed. RESULTS: Articulation therapy resulted in visible decrease in NCSCs for all 5 participants across the intervention phases. Intervention was effective in changing percentage of passive CSCs in two different ways; it reduced the PCSCs in three cases and resulted in an increase in PCSCs in the other two cases. This was interpreted as intervention having changed the non-oral CSCs to consonants produced within the oral cavity but with passive characteristics affecting manner of production including weakness, nasalized plosives and nasal realizations of plosives and fricatives. Percent SC increased throughout the intervention period in all five patients. All participants demonstrated an increase in percentage of CCI and CCN suggesting an increase in the consonant inventory. Follow-up data showed that all the subjects were able to maintain their ability to articulate learned phonemes correctly even after a 4-week break from intervention. CONCLUSION: This single case experimental study supports the hypothesis that speech intervention in patients with VPI can result in an improvement in oral placements and passive CSCs.

Influência da amostra de fala na classificação perceptiva da hipernasalidade / Influence of speech sample on perceptual rating of hypernasality

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar a influência do tipo de amostra de fala, conversa espontânea ou repetição de sentenças, sobre o índice de concordância intra e interavaliadores obtido na classificação perceptiva da hipernasalidade. Métodos Foram selecionadas e editadas 120 amostras de fala gravadas em áudio (60 contendo trechos de conversa espontânea e 60 contendo repetição de sentenças) de indivíduos com fissura de palato±lábio reparada, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 6 e 52 anos (média=21±10 anos). Três fonoaudiólogas experientes, utilizando seus critérios internos, classificaram a hipernasalidade em escala de 4 pontos: 1=ausente, 2=leve, 3=moderada e 4=grave, primeiramente na amostra de conversa espontânea e, 30 dias depois, na repetição de sentenças. Os índices de concordância intra e interavaliadores foram estabelecidos para ambos os tipos de amostra de fala e comparados entre si por meio do Teste Z com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados A comparação dos índices de concordância intra-avaliadores entre os dois tipos de amostra de fala mostrou aumento dos coeficientes obtidos na análise da repetição de sentenças em relação aos obtidos na conversa espontânea, já a comparação entre os índices de concordância interavaliadores não mostrou diferença significante entre as três avaliadoras para os dois tipos de amostras de fala. Conclusão A repetição de sentenças favoreceu a confiabilidade do julgamento perceptivo da hipernasalidade de um mesmo avaliador, visto que a concordância intra-avaliadores na análise desta amostra de fala foi maior. No entanto, o tipo de amostra de fala não influenciou a concordância entre diferentes avaliadores.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the influence of speech sample of spontaneous conversation or sentences repetition on intra and inter-rater hypernasality reliability. Methods One hundred and twenty audio recorded speech samples (60 containing spontaneous conversation and 60 containing repeated sentences) of individuals with repaired cleft palate±lip, both genders, aged between 6 and 52 years old (mean=21±10) were selected and edited. Three experienced speech and language pathologists rated hypernasality according to their own criteria using 4-point scale: 1=absence of hypernasality, 2=mild hypernasality, 3=moderate hypernasality and 4=severe hypernasality, first in spontaneous speech samples and 30 days after, in sentences repetition samples. Intra- and inter-rater agreements were calculated for both speech samples and were statistically compared by the Z test at a significance level of 5%. Results Comparison of intra-rater agreements between both speech samples showed an increase of the coefficients obtained in the analysis of sentences repetition compared to those obtained in spontaneous conversation. Comparison between inter-rater agreement showed no significant difference among the three raters for the two speech samples. Conclusion Sentences repetition improved intra-raters reliability of perceptual judgment of hypernasality. However, the speech sample had no influence on reliability among different raters.

Decision making for residual palatoalveolar cleft defects: a new classification.

Oral rehabilitation of adult patients with cleft lip and palate is related to the severity of the anatomical and functional alterations that hamper the proper closure of the nasopharynx. The ideal treatment is closure by bone graft and orthodontics. However, when surgery is not possible or when the patient does not wish to undergo surgery, a palatal prosthesis may offer the best solution in most clinical situations. The authors of this article propose a new classification to help the practitioner with decision making and prosthetic treatment planning for residual palatoalveolar cleft defects.

Validated patient-reported outcome instruments for velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) affects speech, swallowing, and many psychosocial aspects of life in a way best measured by quality-of-life (QOL) instruments. QOL instruments are patient-reported outcome instruments that provide a method of measuring the value that patients place on their health-related experiences. These instruments allow us to quantify patients' QOL during assessment as well as the clinical improvement that we seek with treatment. Two instruments have primarily been used in the VPI population: the Pediatric Voice Outcomes Survey (PVOS) and the VPI Effects on Life Outcomes (VELO) survey. Each has undergone a different level of assessment. The first step in using an instrument involves understanding how it functions. The PVOS was modified from an adult voice-specific functional status instrument. It was tested for reliability and validated against other patient-reported instruments and has been used to measure change in voice function with VPI surgery. The VELO was developed with comprehensive VPI-specific content and validated against several other measures important in VPI. It was found to be reliable and responsive to change in QOL. The VELO has several subscales (Speech Problems, Swallowing Problems, Situational Difficulty, Perception by Others, Emotional Impact, and Caregiver Impact) that can be used to understand the subtleties of QOL in patients with VPI. Comparison of the effect sizes shows that the VELO has a larger effect size (1.1) than the PVOS (0.6) and may be more capable of detecting change in QOL with treatment. These instruments can be useful for patient assessment, providing a framework for discussion and providing data for research.

Effect of nasal speaking valve on speech intelligibility under velopharyngeal incompetence: a questionnaire survey.

Velopharyngeal incompetence is known as a contributing factor to speech disorders. Suwaki et al. reported that nasal speaking valve (NSV) could improve dysarthria by regulating nasal emission utilising one-way valve. However, disease or condition which would be susceptible to treatment by NSV has not been clarified yet. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of NSV by questionnaire survey using ready-made NSV. Subjects were recruited through the internet bulletin, and NSV survey set was sent to the applicant. Sixty-six participants, who agreed to participate in this study, used NSV and mailed back the questionnaire which included self-evaluation and third-party evaluation of speech intelligibility. Statistical analysis revealed that the use of NSV resulted in significant speech intelligibility improvement in both self-evaluation and third-party evaluation (P < 0·01). Regarding the type of underlying disease of dysarthria, significant effect of NSV on self-evaluation of speech intelligibility could be observed in cerebrovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease (P < 0·01) and that on third-party evaluation in neurodegenerative disease (P < 0·01). Eighty-six percent of subjects showed improvement of speech intelligibility by shutting up nostrils by fingers, and the significant effect of NSV on both self-evaluation and third-party evaluation of speech intelligibility was observed (P < 0·001). From the results of this study, it was suggested that NSV would be effective in cerebrovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease, as well as in subjects whose speech intelligibility was improved by closing nostrils.

Preliminary study of acoustic analysis for evaluating speech-aid oral prostheses: Characteristic dips in octave spectrum for comparison of nasality.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Acoustic analysis is often used in speech evaluation but seldom for the evaluation of oral prostheses designed for reconstruction of surgical defect. This study aimed to introduce the application of acoustic analysis for patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) due to oral surgery and rehabilitated with oral speech-aid prostheses. METHODS: The pre- and postprosthetic rehabilitation acoustic features of sustained vowel sounds from two patients with VPI were analyzed and compared with the acoustic analysis software Praat. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the octave spectrum of sustained vowel speech sound between the pre- and postprosthetic rehabilitation. Acoustic measurements of sustained vowels for patients before and after prosthetic treatment showed no significant differences for all parameters of fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio, formant frequency, F1 bandwidth, and band energy difference. The decrease in objective nasality perceptions correlated very well with the decrease in dips of the spectra for the male patient with a higher speech bulb height. CONCLUSION: Acoustic analysis may be a potential technique for evaluating the functions of oral speech-aid prostheses, which eliminates dysfunctions due to the surgical defect and contributes to a high percentage of intelligible speech. Octave spectrum analysis may also be a valuable tool for detecting changes in nasality characteristics of the voice during prosthetic treatment of VPI.