Temporal characteristics of velopharyngeal function in children.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation was designed to examine the performance of children with normal speech on temporal aspects of aerodynamic tasks related to velopharyngeal closure. DESIGN: The investigation was a descriptive evaluation of variability in aerodynamic features related to velopharyngeal function during multiple repetitions of the word "hamper." SETTING: Children without speech or velopharyngeal difficulties were seen in an experimental laboratory setting for the evaluation procedures. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven subjects were recruited for the experiment. Three subjects were rejected because of behavioral difficulties, and the remaining 24 subjects were subdivided into 4 groups of 6 children (3 males and 3 females) aged 3, 6, 9, and 12 years. The children, who were from local schools and day care centers, volunteered to participate in the experiment. All of the children had age-appropriate speech, language, and hearing abilities, as determined by screening tests administered by one of the examiners (L.T.). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean and variability of pressure-flow measures of peak intraoral air pressure and peak nasal airflow and the temporal measures accompanying each air pressure or airflow pulse were evaluated for the age groups of children examined in the experiment. RESULTS: The aerodynamic procedures employed to evaluate velopharyngeal closure during speech were reliable for use with young children. There was a numerical trend toward decreased duration of the temporal parameters with increasing age. Thus, children demonstrated durational values similar to those previously reported for normal-speaking adults. In general, peak oral air pressure and nasal airflow values were like those of previous investigations and demonstrated low variability across all age groups of children tested. CONCLUSIONS: The data from the present investigation provide a preliminary base for comparison of temporal features of velopharyngeal closure for the aerodynamic evaluation of children with impaired velopharyngeal function.