Validation of an objective assessment tool for velopharyngeal insufficiency in cleft lip and palate children

The objective of this study is to utilize the Nasometer to objectively assess velopharyngeal competence, specifically through the quantification of nasalance. Initial calibration of the nasometer was conducted on American adults. The objective of this study was to validate the use of the nasometer for the objective diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in French children born with a total cleft lip and palate and to select relevant verbal stimuli for clinical practice.

The nasalance scores of 42 children aged 8 to 10 years old, born with a cleft lip and palate, were collected and compared with 50 control children. The scores were then analyzed in relation to 31 verbal stimuli from the French corpus created for this study (sentences and syllables). The most relevant threshold values were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves, which exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity.

The results demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean nasalance scores of the control and cleft groups for all verbal stimuli containing oral phonemes. Threshold values with good diagnostic accuracy were defined, and 15 verbal stimuli were selected for use in clinical practice.

The nasalance threshold values defined in this study can be utilized for the objective diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and the subsequent monitoring of French children aged 8 to 10 years old, born with a cleft lip and palate.