Acoustic technique for determining timing of velopharyngeal closure in swallowing

A pure tone sound source was introduced at a nostril and monitored by a miniature accelerometer on the throat. During velopharyngeal closure in a swallow, the pure tone component in the accelerometer signal was attenuated. Throat accelerometer recordings were made simultaneously with videofluoroscopy of a modified barium swallow in adults with normal velopharyngeal mechanisms. It was verified that the period of sound attenuation corresponded to the period of velar closure. This noninvasive method of monitoring otherwise silent velopharyngeal closure holds promise for normative studies on swallowing function, as an adjunct method in longitudinal assessment, and as a training aid.