Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Diagnosis and treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency: clinical utility of speech evaluation and videofluoroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: The workup of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) includes speech pathology evaluation and examination of velopharyngeal anatomy and physiology. This study sought to determine whether perceptual speech symptoms were predictive of velopharyngeal closure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with VPI following primary palatoplasty was performed. All patients underwent perceptual speech evaluation using the Pittsburgh Weighted Speech Scale (PWSS) and examination of velopharyngeal anatomy by videofluoroscopy. PWSS scores were correlated to velopharyngeal closure.

RESULTS: All patients exhibited clinical VPI (PWSS = 5-27). No patient demonstrated complete velopharyngeal closure on videofluoroscopy. Velopharyngeal closure on the lateral view showed a statistically significant, moderate correlation with both the PWSS total score (rs = -0.424; P = 0.03) and the phonation subscore (rs = -0.405; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Although certain aspects of speech are related to velopharyngeal anatomy, speech and videofluoroscopic studies each provide unique information in the workup of VPI. Selection of surgical approach often depends on anatomic factors, and improvement in speech postoperatively indicates successful treatment.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app