Impact of delayed prosthetic treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency on quality of life

• Main Authors: Kaushal Kishor Agrawal, Balendra Pratap Singh, Pooran Chand, Chandra Bhusan Singh Patel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2011-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Research
• Subjects: Fricatives; hypernasality; obturator; palatopharyngeal insufficiency; syllables
• Online Access: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2011;volume=22;issue=2;spage=356;epage=358;aulast=Agrawal

Palatopharyngeal dysfunction may take place when palatopharyngeal valve is unable to perform its own closing due to a lack of tissue (palatopharyngeal insufficiency) or lack of proper movement (palatopharyngeal incompetence). Palatopharyngeal insufficiency induces nasal regurgitation of liquids, hypernasal speech, nasal escape, disarticulations and impaired speech intelligibility. Prosthetic management of palatopharyngeal insufficiency requires a close co-operation between an otolaryngologist and a speech pathologist. As a result, the patient can be socially and physically rehabilitated with the improved speech quality as well as prevention of leakage of liquids.