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Semin Speech Lang 2011; 32(2): 191-198
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1277721
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Speech Therapy for Errors Secondary to Cleft Palate and Velopharyngeal Dysfunction

Ann W. Kummer1
  • 1Senior Director, Division of Speech Pathology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Division of Speech Pathology, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 September 2011 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Individuals with a history of cleft lip/palate or velopharyngeal dysfunction may demonstrate any combination of speech sound errors, hypernasality, and nasal emission. Speech sound distortion can also occur due to other structural anomalies, including malocclusion. Whenever there are structural anomalies, speech can be affected by obligatory distortions or compensatory errors. Obligatory distortions (including hypernasality due to velopharyngeal insufficiency) are caused by abnormal structure and not by abnormal function. Therefore, surgery or other forms of physical management are needed for correction. In contrast, speech therapy is indicated for compensatory articulation productions where articulation placement is changed in response to the abnormal structure. Speech therapy is much more effective if it is done after normalization of the structure. When speech therapy is appropriate, the techniques involve methods to change articulation placement using standard articulation therapy principles. Oral-motor exercises, including the use of blowing and sucking, are never indicated to improve velopharyngeal function. The purpose of this article is to provide information regarding when speech therapy is appropriate for individuals with a history of cleft palate or other structural anomalies and when physical management is needed. In addition, some specific therapy techniques are offered for the elimination of common compensatory articulation productions.

KEYWORDS

Cleft palate - velopharyngeal insufficiency - velopharyngeal incompetence - velopharyngeal dysfunction - compensatory articulation - speech therapy

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Ann W KummerPh.D. CCC-SLP ASHA-F 

Division of Speech Pathology, MLC 4011, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039

Email: ann.kummer@cchmc.org

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