Speech Ability Following Primary Cleft Palate Operations

• Published in: Journal of Japanese Cleft Palate Association Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 161 - 168
• Main Authors: Okazaki, Keiko, Sumiya, Noriyoshi, Kato, Masako, Onizuka, Takuya, Udagawa, Kouichi, Matsui, Atsuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Cleft Palate Association 31.12.1985
• Subjects: articulation; Cleft palate; velopharyngeal function
• ISSN: 0386-5185; 2186-5701
• DOI: 10.11224/cleftpalate1976.10.2_161

Velopharyngeal function and articulation following primary palatoplasties were investigated in 243cleft palate subjects. Operations based on the palatal push back method were performed on the patients from 1977 to 1981. The 243 subjects included 41 patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate,44 with unilateral cleft lip and palate,31 with soft and hard cleft palate and 58 soft palate. The operation were performed between the ages of 11 months and 52 years,89 % were u nder 2years of age. The evaluation was undertaken before speech training and secondary operation. Velopharyngeal function was evaluated by oral survey, speech (vocal resonance and production of pressure consonants), soft blowing, lateral view radiography and nasopharyngeal fiberscope inspection. The results were as follows: (1) About eighty-nine pe rcent of the subjects showed good velopharyngeal closure. (2) The incidence of subjects with good velopharyngeal closure was high in unilateral cleft lip and palate and soft cleft palate, and also in the groupe of youngest age. (3) Forty-four percent showed normal speech. (4) Incidence of articulation disorders w as fifty-one percent. (5) There was a trend toward higher percentage o f patients with articulation disorder as the severity of the cleft increased and the age of operation was older. (6) Palatalized articulation was the highest in frequency, the second lateral articulation and the third was glottal stop.