- Endoscopy, using a medical device with lights attached that allow doctors to see inside the mouth.
- Videofluoroscopy, a type of X-ray that uses a liquid called barium to provide contrast that makes it easy for a doctor to examine the back of the mouth.
How do you assess Velopharyngeal insufficiency?
Velopharyngeal insufficiency is suspected in patients with the typical speech abnormalities. Palpation of the midline of the soft palate may reveal an occult submucous cleft, usually in patients with bifid uvula.
Direct inspection with a fiberoptic nasoendoscope
is the primary diagnostic technique.
How do you assess velopharyngeal function?
An aeromechanical approach
is also used frequently to evaluate velopharyngeal function during speech production. Perhaps the most powerful aeromechanical method involves obtaining simultaneous measures of nasal airflow, oral air pressure, and nasal air pressure.
Who can diagnose Velopharyngeal insufficiency?
In some cases, VPI results from an unknown cause. How is VPI diagnosed?
A speech pathologist
can determine whether the speech deficit is caused by VPI or another speech disorder. A nasoendoscopy is used to view palatal motion during speech and to determine the size and shape of the velopharyngeal gap.
How do you test for cul de sac resonance?
Feel sides of
nose
for vibration that might accompany perceived hypernasality
How is Velopharyngeal insufficiency treated?
The treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency or velopharyngeal incompetence usually requires
a surgical procedure
(tonsillectomy, Furlow Z-plasty, pharyngeal flap, sphincter pharyngoplasty, or posterior pharyngeal wall implant).
What sounds does Velopharyngeal insufficiency affect?
When a child has VPI, the pressure consonants may sound weak or muffled. As air escapes through the nose, it may sound like
puffs, squeaks or snorts
.
What is the difference between Velopharyngeal incompetence and insufficiency?
Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which is due to abnormal structure. Velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), which is due to
abnormal movement
.
What are the speech characteristics that are secondary to Velopharyngeal insufficiency?
These problems include
hypernasality
Can you have 2 Uvulas?
A
bifid uvula
, also known as a cleft uvula, is a uvula that is split in two. The distance between the two halves of the uvula may be narrow or wide. A bifid uvula may be an isolated, benign finding, or it may be related to submucous cleft palate.
How do I stop being so nasal?
Lower your voice placement
in your pharyngeal and oral cavities to avoid nasal resonance. Lowering your jaw appropriately for the sounds and speaking with good range of motion with your speech articulators will help you place your voice more in the oral cavity, farther from your nasal cavity.
What sounds are affected by VPI?
When a child has VPI, the pressure consonants may
sound weak or muffled
. As air escapes through the nose, it may sound like puffs, squeaks or snorts.
What causes Hypernasal resonance?
This may happen when it’s plugged (e.g. cold, allergies). Hypernasal resonance means that
too much sound comes through your nose
. This happens when the soft palate doesn’t stop air from going through the nose.
What causes Velopharyngeal insufficiency?
What causes velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI)? The most common cause of VPI is
a cleft palate
, a birth defect in which there is an opening in the roof of the mouth
What is the most commonly used surgical procedure for correction of Velopharyngeal insufficiency?
The most common surgical procedures for correcting VPI are
pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty
and it has been reported that with either of these surgical techniques a successful outcome can be achieved in around 90% of the cases.
What does Hypernasal speech sound like?
Hypernasal speech is the sound of speech that
results from too much air escaping through the nose while talking
. There are certain letters and sounds that should not have air escaping through the nose during speech. Examples of these are vowels, or letters like “s”, “b”, and “k”.
