| Objective Evaluation of Surgically Corrected Velopharyngeal Insufficiency with Nasalance on Nasometer |
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Chae Seo Rhee, Young Ho Jung, Myung Whun Sung, Chul Hee Lee, Yang Gi Min |
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Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Seoul National University College of Medicine Seoul, Korea. csrhee@snu.ac.kr |
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| Abstract |
Background and Objectives
Various kinds of surgical correction have been performed for management of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of nasometer by comparing the speech evaluation with the nasalance change in patients who had undergone surgical correction of VPI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twelve cases of VPI, who had undergone surgical correction at Seoul National University Hospital between January 1996 and June 1999, were retrieved in this study. Nasality in all cases was evaluated by the speech evaluation and nasometer before and 3 months after the operation.
Results
Postoperative nasalance decreased from 49.0% to 40.9%. Seven of nine patients with decreased nasalance after the operation showed improved nasality by the speech evaluation. Three patients with increased nasalance or no change in nasalance did not show change of nasality by the speech evaluation. Seven cases of improved nasality by the speech evaluation represented significant decrease in nasalance.
Conclusion
The speech outcome after surgical correction of VPI may be evaluated objectively with the change of nasalance. |
| Key Words:
Velopharyngeal insufficiency;Nasometer;Nasalance |
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