• MALSORI
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• no.61
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• pp.15-29
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• 2007

The present study investigates acoustic cues of russian soft plosive consonants. In previous studies, russian soft consonants are distinguished from hard consonants by F1, F2 of following vowels. The result showed: (1) that F0 of soft plosive consonants in following vowels were lower than those of hard plosive consonants; (2) and that VOT of soft plosive consonants were longer than those of hard plosive consonants. Hence, the present that, in addition to F1, F2, VOT and F0 are detected as acoustic cues that differentiate soft plosive consonants from hard plosive consonant in Russian.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 1998

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.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2012

Background : The soft palate functions as a valve and helps generate the oral pressure required for normal speech resonance. Speech problems and nasal regurgitation can result from a soft palatal defect. Reduction of the size of the velopharyngeal orifice is required to compensate for the lack of mobility in a reconstructed soft palate. We suggest a large volume folded free flap for reduction of the caliber and a palmaris longus tendon sling for suspension of the reconstructed palate. Methods : Six patients had total soft palate resection for tonsillar cancer and reconstruction with a large volume folded radial forearm free flap combined with a palmaris longus sling. A single surgeon and speech therapist examined the patients with three standardized speech assessment tools: nasometer test, consonant articulation test, and speech acuity test performed for speech evaluation. Results : Mean nasalance score was 76.20% for sentences with nasal sounds and 43.60% for sentences with oral sounds. Hypernasality was seen for oral sound sentences. The mean score of the picture consonant articulation test was 84% (range, 63% to 100%). The mean score of the speech acuity test was 5.84 (range, 5 to 6). These mean ratings represent a satisfactory level of speech function. Conclusions : The large volume folded free flap with a palmaris longus tendon sling for total soft palate reconstruction resulted in satisfactory prognosis for speech despite moderate hypernasality.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 2001

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, various muscles of palate & pharynx function as sphincter and occlude the oropharynx from the nasopharynx during the production of oral consonant sounds. Inadequate velopharyngeal function caused by neurologic disorder - cerebral apoplexy, regressive diseases - disseminated sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, congenital deformity - cleft palate, cerebral palsy and etc. may result in abnormal speech characterized by hypernasality, nasal emission and decreased intelligibility of speech due to weak consonant production. In our study, we constructed speech aids prosthesis - Palatal lift in acquired idiophathic VPI patient and assessed velopharyngeal function with various diagnostic instruments which can evaluate the speech characteristics objectively.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 1993

This study was done to analyze phonetic dysfunction and the effect of orthognathic surgery to phonation in the patients of mandibular prognathism. 20 persons were chosen as normal group and 20 patients of mandibular prognathism as abnormal for this study. 5 vowel sounds-'ㅏ(a)', 'ㅔ(e)', 'ㅣ(i)', 'ㅗ(o)', 'ㅜ(u)' and 14 consonant sounds-'ㄱ(g)', "ㄴ(n), 'ㄷ(d)', 'ㄹ(l)', 'ㅁ(m)', 'ㅂ(b)', 'ㅅ(s)', 'ㅇ(ng)', 'ㅈ(j)', 'ㅊ(ch)', 'ㅋ(k)', 'ㅌ(t)', 'ㅍ(p)', 'ㅎ(h)', were checked. We recorded these sounds in the period of preopration, postop. 12 months, postop. 24 months. A Formant ratio and a length of consonant time were studied with discriminant analysis. As a result of the study, the following conclusion were gained. 1. As a result of the analysis on vowel dysfunction patiensts of mandibular prognathism, more than 80% of men patients showed the dysfunction in prelingual sound 'ㅔ(e)' and 'ㅣ(i)'. More than 70% of women patients showed the dysfunction in all vowel. 2. One year later from the orthognathic surgery, men patients showed a marked improvement in 'ㅏ(a)'. The next were 'ㅗ(o)', 'ㅜ(u)' and 'ㅣ(i)'. Women patients showed a marked improvement in 'ㅜ(u)'. 3. Two year later from the orthognathic surgery, men patients showed a marked improvement in prelingual sound 'ㅔ(e)' and postlingual sound 'ㅗ(o)'. Women patients showed a marked improvement in 'ㅏ(a)'. More than 20% of patients showed the phonetic improvement compared with the condition of the postop. 12 months. 4. As a result of the analysis on consonant dysfunction patient of mandibular prognathism. more than 80% of men patients showed the dysfunction in lingual sound 'ㅅ(s)'. Most women patients showed the dysfunction in labial sound 'ㅁ(m)' and lingual sound 'ㄴ(n)'. More than 50% of patients showed the dysfunction in labial sound and lingual sound. 5. One year later from the orthognathic surgery. men patients showed a complete improvement in hard palatal sound 'ㅈ(j)'. The next were labial sound 'ㅂ(b)', lingual sound 'ㅅ(s)', soft palatal sound 'ㄱ(g)' and 'ㅋ(k)'. Women patients showed a marked improvement in soft palatal sound 'ㅇ(ng)' and 'ㄱ(g)'. 6. Two year later from the orthognathic surgery, all patients showed remarkable improvement in consonant sounds. except for labial sound 'ㅁ(m)', 'ㅍ(p)' and lingual sound 'ㄴ(n)'. The improvement ratio was increased as the time was going on compared with the condition of postop 12 months.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.483-488
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• 2006

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, various muscles of palate & pharynx function as sphincter and occlude the oropharynx from the nasopharynx during the production of oral consonant sounds. Inadequate velopharyngeal function caused by neurologic disorder - cerebral apoplexy, regressive diseases - disseminated sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, congenital deformity - cleft palate, cerebral palsy and etc. may result in abnormal speech characterized by hypernasality, nasal emission and decreased intelligibility of speech due to weak consonant production. In our study, we constructed speech aids prosthesis - Speech bulb in the incomplete cleft palate VPI patient with hypernasality and assessed velopharyngeal function with nasometer which can evaluate the speech characteristics objectively.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2016

The present study was to test if breathing training in melodic intonation therapy (MIT) ameliorated the articulation intelligibility of Broca's aphasics or not. The experimental group did breathing training (2 stages) that preceded the MIT. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the MIT intervention, the VOT (Voice Onset Time), the TD (Total Delay), the voice sound intensity and the expiratory volume of the subjects, closely associated with articulation intelligibility were measured before and after the intervention. It was shown that, in the experimental group after the MIT intervention, the VOT and TD were increased on bilabial/p/, alveolar consonant /t/, and soft palatal /k/(p < 0.05), but no significant differences were found on affricate /c/ and fricative /s/(p > 0.05). In the control group, no significant increases in the VOT and TD were observed on all articulation points(p > 0.05). The voice sound intensity which influences the verbal articulation increased in the experimental group after the intervention(p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. In conclusion, the breathing training in the MIT was found to result in improving the articulation intelligibility of Broca's aphasiacs.