Abstract

LEAL, Natália et al. Palatal obturators in patients with cleft palate. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2014, vol.14, n.2, pp. 71-78. ISSN 1808-5210.

Objective: To evaluate the action of speech-aid palatal obturators in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency due to cleft palate. Methods: Ten transforamen or post-foramen cleft palate patients with a diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency, based on the analysis of hypernasality and nasal air emission, participated in the study. Hypernasality was assessed during spontaneous speech samples and repetition of words and phrases. Nasal air emission was classified according to the amount of nasal air escape detected by the fogged-mirror test during oral breath and prolonged emission of phonemes, words and phrases with plosive and fricative sounds. Assessments were performed at three time points: T0, T1, and T2. Results: As for hypernasality of the vowel /i/ and nasal air emission, there was a statistically significant difference at T2, but no difference between T0 and T1. Regarding hypernasality of the vowel /u/ and velopharyngeal function, there was no statistically significant difference between T0, T1, and T2. Conclusion: These results indicate that the use of speech-aid palatal obturators in cleft palate patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency increased hypernasality of the vowel /i/ and nasal air emission. Hypernasality of the vowel /u/ and velopharyngeal function showed no significant changes.

Keywords : Palatal obturators; Velopharyngeal insufficiency; surgery; Speech; Cleft palate..