Anatomical and functional characterization of the hypodynamic velopharynx in individuals with cleft palate

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to characterize the velopharyngeal function of individuals presented with velopharyngeal dysfunction, suggestive of a hypodynamic velopharynx.

Methods:

the sample comprised nasoendoscopy examinations from adult subjects with repaired cleft palate, no fistula, velopharyngeal dysfunction, and a probable diagnosis of hypodynamic velopharynx. All participants used a pharyngeal bulb prosthesis and had never undergone speech therapy for velopharyngeal dysfunction. Three speech-language pathologists assessed the movement of velopharyngeal structures. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kappa being employed to measure intra-rater agreement.

Results:

out of the 28 recordings, 23 (82%) exhibited minimal mobility of the soft palate and lateral pharyngeal walls, with a large residual velopharyngeal gap. Additionally, 23 (82%) showed no antagonistic movement, and the Passavant's ridge was present in 7 (25%). Regarding the type, 16 (57%) had a circular gap, 8 (28%) had a circular gap with a Passavant´s ridge, 3 (10%) had a coronal gap, and 1 (5%) had a sagittal one. There was no movement of the posterior pharyngeal wall in 14 (50%) recordings. Agreement was considered almost perfect for all aspects analyzed (Kappa = 1.00).

Conclusion:

subjects presented with velopharyngeal dysfunction, indicative of a hypodynamic velopharynx, exhibited a velopharyngeal gap equal to or greater than 50% of the resting size of the velopharyngeal space, with minimal movement of the soft palate and pharyngeal walls.

Keywords:
Cleft Palate; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency; Palatal Obturators; Speech