ABSTRACT
Cleft lip is an anomaly that primarily affects aesthetics, whereas cleft palate is
an anomaly that primarily affects function, particularly speech. In fact, the main
reason for repairing the palate is to provide adequate structure and function for
normal speech production. Despite undergoing palatoplasty surgery, 20 to 30% of children
with repaired cleft palate will demonstrate some degree of velopharyngeal dysfunction,
resulting in abnormal speech. Velopharyngeal dysfunction is also seen in individuals
without a history of cleft palate for various reasons. Because the symptoms of velopharyngeal
dysfunction have a variety of causes, a comprehensive evaluation is very important
to make the appropriate recommendations for treatment. The purpose of this article
is to discuss the clinical assessment of velopharyngeal function for speech, using
low-tech and “no-tech” procedures.
KEYWORDS
Velopharyngeal insufficiency - velopharyngeal incompetence - velopharyngeal dysfunction
- hypernasality - assessment
REFERENCES
ann.kummer@cchmc.org
