Abstract
Introduction Velopharyngeal sphincter is a portion of the muscle of the palatopharyngeal arch
that is capable of separating the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. It has not been
determined yet whether voice intensity has an influence on this capacity. Velopharyngeal
sphincter closure is accomplished by elevating and retracting the soft palate at the
same time as the nasopharyngeal walls are constricted.
Objective This study aims to correlate voice intensity with velopharyngeal sphincter closure
in individuals without velopharyngeal dysfunction and patients with cleft lip and
palate.
Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, comparative, and contemporary study. The sample consisted
of 16 individuals in the control group and 16 individuals in the study group. Patients
underwent instrumental assessment, which we subsequently analyzed using a computer
program, and a brief medical history review. The mean age of the control group was
27.6 years, whereas the mean age of the case group was 15.6 years.
Results Cases showed higher voice intensity in regular and weak fricative sentences when
compared with controls. There was no agreement on the analysis of the instrumental
assessment between the assessors and the computer program. Regardless of voice intensity,
the computer program demonstrated a similar closure pattern.
Conclusion The computer program showed similar closure pattern for the three levels of intensity.
There was no agreement between the three assessors and the closure pattern determined
by the computer program. There was no statistically significant correlation between
voice intensity and degree of velopharyngeal sphincter closure.
Keywords
velopharyngeal sphincter - voice - cleft lip - cleft palate - physiology