Nasal speaking valve: a device for managing velopharyngeal incompetence

Authors: SUWAKI, M.¹; NANBA, K.¹; ITO, E.²; KUMAKURA, I.²; MINAGI, S.¹

Source: Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, Volume 35, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 73-78(6)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $48.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Summary

Velopharyngeal incompetence is a contributing factor for speech disorders, and other frequently accompanying disorders, such as cleft palate, congenital paralysis of the soft palate and cerebrovascular disease. A palatal lift prosthesis (PLP) has been fabricated for managing velopharyngeal incompetence to improve speech. Because of discomfort, such as difficulty in swallowing or vomiting reflex, while wearing the PLP, rigorous adjustment is required. Patients may have difficulty becoming accustomed to using the prosthesis. This article reports on a newly developed device, the nasal speaking valve, for improving hypernasal speech caused by velopharyngeal incompetence.

Keywords: velopharyngeal incompetence; palatal lift prosthesis; dysarthria; intelligibility; speech; hypernasality

Document Type: Case report

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2842.2007.01800.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Occlusal and Oral Function Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 2: Department of Sensory Science, Kawasaki University, Kurashiki, Japan

Publication date: 2008-01-01