Nasometer Test for Analysis on Velopharyngeal Function of Patients with Cl e f t Palate

OGATA Yuko, NAKAMURA Norifumi, KUBOTA Yasutaka, SASAGURI Masaaki, KIKUTA Rumiko, SHIRASUNA Kanemitsu, OHISHI Masamichi

doi:10.11224/cleftpalate1976.28.1_9

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish diagnostic criteria for velopharyngeal closure function (VPF) using the nasometer test in patients with cleft palate. Study design: Eighty-three patients who had been treated by palatoplasty and followe d up for more than thrae years, and twenty normal children as controls participated in this study. VPF was evaluated by perceptual voice analysis, blowing ratio and cephalometric analysis. The nasometer test was performed during vowel/i: /and consonant/tsm/phonation and during high-pressure and low-pressure sentences. The average and maximum nasalance scores were calculated. The relationship between these nasalance scores and the various VPF levels were analyzed for both cleft and control groups.<BR>Results: VPF was evaluated as goo d in 28.9%, marginal in 18.1%, mild in 27.7%, and poor in 25.3% of patients with cleft palate. The nasalance scores during/i/phonation in the good VPF and control groups averaged 20%, and were significantly lower than the scores obtained by other VPF groups. The poorer groups obtained higher nasalance scores. Furthermore, the distribution of nasalance scores obtained while speaking about topics, revealed that the average nasalance score of the good VPF and control groups tended to be smaller than 20%when phonating vowels, consonants, and sentences, Conversely, many of the patients in the mild and poor VPF groups obtained nasalance scores of more than 40% on phonating vowels and consonants, with a maximum nasalance score of over 80%, when phonating high-pressure sentences.<BR>Conclusions: We concluded that the nasometer test is useful for the objective assessment of postoperative VPF in patients with cleft palate. The test needs various high -and lowpressure conditions during the phonation of vowels, consonants and sentences. In this test, good VPF can be diagnosed when the average score of vowel is less than 20% and less than 60% during the phonation of low-pressure sentences. While poor VPF is indicated when the average score of vowel and consonant phonation is more than 40% and exceeds 80% during the phonation of high-pressure sentences. In these patients, active speech therapy should be followed.

Nasometer Test for Analysis on Velopharyngeal Function of Patients with Cl e f t Palate

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