Resonance Tube Therapy as a Novel Approach to Enhance Velopharyngeal Function

To evaluate the effect of resonance tube therapy (RTT) for velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI) of patients with cleft palate (CP± L), submucous cleft palate (SMCP), and congenital velopharyngeal incompetence (CVPI).

Thirteen patients were diagnosed with mild or moderate VPI due to either repaired CP± L (7), repaired SMCP (1), or CVPI (5) who had articulation errors. We trained these 13 patients in RTT and performed cephalometry before and after training. Roentgen lateral cephalograms during phonation were used to measure the velar height (mm) and the distance of the narrowest segment of the velopharynx (mm).

After RTT, the velum was significantly elevated, and the velopharynx was narrowed during phonation of /a/ (p< 0.01). Additionally, the velum was significantly elevated, and the velopharynx was more markedly narrowed during phonation of /ɯ/ with tube (tube phonation /ɯ/) than during phonation of /a/ (p < 0.01). The velopharyngeal function (VPF) of all 13 patients was improved by RTT. Ten of 13 showed improved speech and velopharyngeal function. Our findings suggest that RTT is effective in improving velar mobility and velopharyngeal function.

The use of roentgen lateral cephalography during phonation provides quantitative objective findings that distinguish between velar mobility before and after RTT. We propose that RTT is effective for improving velar mobility and velopharyngeal function in patients with and without cleft palate (CP).