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.

What causes velopharyngeal incompetence?

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 because the palate didn’t form properly. Repair of the cleft palate may or may not also eliminate the VPI problem.

What is velopharyngeal closure in swallowing?

Abstract. Velopharyngeal closure plays an important role in preventing air pressure leakage during swallowing and phonation from oropharynx to nasopharynx. Levator veli palatini muscle activity is influenced by oral and nasal air pressure, volume of the swallow bolus and postural changes.

What is velopharyngeal incompetence?

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is when the soft palate does not close tightly against the back of the throat, leading to air coming out the nose (characterized by hypernasality and/or nasal air emission) during speech. This can cause speech that is difficult to understand.

What is the function of the velopharyngeal system?

Velopharyngeal Function and Dysfunction. During normal speech, air from the lungs and sound from the vocal cords (in the larynx, or “voice box”) travel upward in the throat (pharynx). To produce most speech sounds, the air and sound need to be directed into the mouth and blocked from entering the nasal cavity.

When to use speech therapy for velopharyngeal dysfunction?

Speech therapy is usually needed after the operation to help the child learn how to make sounds correctly. If the problem is due to velopharyngeal mislearning, speech therapy alone will correct abnormal speech.

When does the velopharyngeal closure occur during swallowing?

At the same time, the lateral pharyngeal walls (not shown in the diagram) move to close against the soft palate. This results in a sphincter-type closure. Velopharyngeal closure also occurs during swallowing, gagging, vomiting, sucking, blowing and whistling. What are VPD and VPI? Show Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) is a general term.

Where is the velopharyngeal valve located in the throat?

This is done through closure of the velopharyngeal valve. The velopharyngeal valve consists of the following structures: Velum (soft palate) Lateral pharyngeal walls − side walls of the throat. Posterior pharyngeal wall − the back wall of the throat.