Correlation between perceptual tests and videofluoroscopy in the diagnostic of velopharyngeal dysfunction

Abstract

Velopharyngeal insufficiency and incompetency are types of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) which require different types of treatment. For those cases who present with velopharyngeal insufficiency a physical procedure, such as surgery or prosthesis, is the treatment of choice and for those who present velopharyngeal incompetency, speech therapy should be indicated. None effective treatment should be indicated if a precise differential diagnostic of the VPD type is done, and for this purpose a clinical and instrumental speech evaluation is always necessary. Perceptual speech evaluation is considered to be the gold standard procedure for many investigators to identify speech and voice disorders in an individual with cleft palate. Literature describes some methods and specific tests to provide the differential diagnostic of VPD, such as the Hypernasality and Nasal Air Emission Tests described by Bzoch (2004), which aim to evaluate velopharyngeal function and dysfunction. Image instrumental exams, such as videofluoroscopy complement the perceptual evaluation findings and are frequently used to define surgical procedures. Up to date none study has been done to investigate the correlation between the Bzoch´s perceptual tests and the findings of videofluoroscopy. Objective: To investigate the correlation between the Hipernasality and Nasal Air Emission Tests and the findings of videofluoroscopy in the diagnostic of VPD. Material e Methods: The sample will be composed by 30 operated unilateral cleft lip and palate patients, with ages between 5 and 15 years, who have been undergone the Hypernasality and Nasal Air Emission Tests in the same date of the videofluoroscopy for the diagnostic of VPD. (AU)