비인강 폐쇄부전 환자에서 발음보조장치의 치료효과

The Effect of Speech Aids in Velopharyngeal Incompetency Patients

Velopharyngeal function refers to the combined activity of the soft palate and pharynx in closing and opening the velopharyngeal port to the required degree. In normal speech, during the production of oral consonant sounds elevation of the soft palate, along with the superior constrictor muscle, occludes the oropharynx from the nasopharynx. Inadequate velopharyngeal function caused by congenital or acquired insufficiency or incompetency may result in abnormal speech characterized by hypernasality, nasal emission and decreased intelligibility of speech due to weak consonant production. The speech aid is often helpful in improving the speech of individuals with velopharyngeal incompetency. In this article, the pathogenesis and treatment of velopharyngeal incompetence are discussed and a speech aid appliance that was constructed for the patient is described.