2017 Volume 42 Issue 3 Pages 215-224
Various difficulties are related to the effects of cleft lip and palate. Among these, difficulty using words can cause communicative disorders that strongly and adversely affect individual quality of life （QOL）. Nevertheless, earlier studies have not adequately investigated factors related to the occurrence of palatalized articulation in people with cleft lip and palate. Using objective evaluation indices comprehensively from the viewpoint of phonetic linguistics, this study was conducted to clarify relations between the occurrence of palatalized articulation and the palatine form, occlusal relation, and velopharyngeal closure function.
This study examined 36 patients with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate who received care and management at the Cleft Lip, Alveolus and Palate Center, Tohoku University Hospital. The palatine form was measured three-dimensionally by scanning the dentition model of each patient at 4-5 years old using a non-contact three-dimensional measurement device and three-dimensional measurement software. Occlusion evaluation and velopharyngeal closure function testing were used to investigate the relationship with the occurrence of palatalized articulation statistically.
The following results were obtained.
（1） Palatine form measurement
The length, width, height, surface area, and volume tended to be smaller in the palatalized articulation group than in the normal articulation group. Significant differences were found particularly in the width and height at the back of the palate.
（2） Occlusion evaluation
In more than half of the palatalized articulation group, occlusion was poorer than in the normal articulation group. Palatalized articulation and deterioration of molar buccal occlusion occurred more frequently on the affected side.
（3） Velopharyngeal closure function evaluation
Most patients showed good function in both groups. No significant relation was found with the occurrence of palatalized articulation.
These results suggest that narrowing （reduced width） and shallowing （reduced height） at the back of the palate are associated with deterioration of molar buccal occlusion on the affected side and are strongly related to the occurrence of palatalized articulation. These study results are expected to improve the individual QOL of patients by improving the treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate.
