Comparative analysis of velar activity assessed by acoustic rhinometry and nasopharyngoscopy in velopharyngeal dysfunction

• Grant number: 10/13779-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Inge Elly Kiemle Trindade
• Grantee: Andressa Sharllene Carneiro da Silva
• Host Institution: Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais (HRAC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The distribution of expiratory airflow and acoustic vibrations to the oral cavity, during the production of speech oral sounds, and to the nasal cavity, during the production of nasal sounds, depends on the action of velopharyngeal structures (soft palate and pharyngeal walls). Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) impairs speech in different ways, resulting in hypernasality, nasal air emission, low intraoral air pressure and articulation disorders. The main cause of VPD is a cleft palate, but in significant amount of cases, VPD may persist even after palatal repair. Among the instrumental methods that allow the study of velopharyngeal function is acoustic rhinometry, usually employed to assess nasal geometry. As part of a larger study in which the efficiency and applications of this technique in the diagnosis of VPD and in monitoring outcomes of therapeutic interventions is being investigated, the aim of the present study is to investigate if acoustic rhinometry is able to identify the deficiency in velar movement that characterizes VPD. Nasopharyngeal volume will be determined during voluntary interruption of breathing (velar rest), and during the production of the consonant /k/ in the word /kaza/ (maximum velar activity), by using an Eccovision Acoustic Rhinometer. Velar mobility will be calculated by the difference between both variables (V). Rhinometric findings will be compared with the degree and type of velopharyngeal closure assessed by nasopharyngoscopy. The results may contribute to the introduction of a new method for assessing velopharyngeal function on routine tests available for speech rehabilitation of patients with cleft palate. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Andressa Sharllene Carneiro da. Comparative analysis of velopharyngeal activity assessed by acoustic rhinometry and nasoendoscopy. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB/SDB) Bauru.