Objective, noninvasive evaluation of velopharyngeal function in cleft and noncleft patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate a new diagnostic method that provides an approach to noninvasive, objective measurement of velopharyngeal movement by acoustic determination of epipharyngeal volume changes with velopharyngeal muscle function.

This was a case control study, using consecutive samples.

This study took place at the Cleft Palate Rehabilitation Center of the University of Mainz, Germany.

Subjects were 29 consecutive cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients and 31 controls (21 patients with dysgnathia and 10 healthy volunteers).

A series of transnasal acoustic measurements (pressure wave: 55 dB for 2 milliseconds) of epipharyngeal volume were performed with the pharyngeal muscles relaxed in end-expiration and while the velopharyngeal orifice was closed, with the difference in volume representing maximal pharyngeal movement.

Cleft palate patients yielded significantly lower values of velopharyngeal movement (6.5 cm3) than did the control group (8.0 cm3) (p < .05; Mann-Whitney U test). Overlapping ranges of values were measured for the C(L)P and control groups. The least mobility (4.75 cm3) was measured in patients who had undergone pharyngeal flap surgery. Different patterns of restriction were observed in patients with and without a pharyngeal flap.

Acoustic pharyngometry may provide access to noninvasive quantitative measurement of velopharyngeal movement and a better understanding of the pattern of movement in C(L)P-patients. We expect it to be a helpful tool in objectively monitoring the progress of logopedic therapy.