Abstract
To evaluate the effectiveness of visual training with Dynamic Palatography(DP) on modifying compensatory articulation, the therapeutic process for the /s/ sound was assessed objectively using the original assessment method in five cleft palate patients who exhibited Japanese Palatal Articulation and Japanese Lateral Misarticulation and were trained in a similar procedure.
Method: The process of learning each syllable is divide d into five stages ( I V) according to DP patterns and the direction and amount of the air stream. Then, the five stages are subdivided into eight levels of application, progressing from isolated sounds to natural conversational speech. In addition to the 40 learning levels, four levels of basic training to correct abnormal tongue placements are included at the beginning of therapy. In general, training progressed from one level to the next. When correct responses were obtained at a criterion of 80% or more, the task was judged to have been successfully completed. The whole therapeutic process is assessed by progressing these training levels.
Results: 1) The severe group who exhibited remarkable compensatory articulation required more therapy sessions for the /s/ sound than did the slight group.
2) The patients treated with DP required fewer therapy sessions for the /s/ sound than the patients treated without it.
3) Although the patients treated with DP required many therapy sessions in basic training, they could readily learn the /s/ sound once they learned to avoid elevating the dorsum of the tonuge.
4) The patients treated without DP required many therapy sessions in order to learn slight changes in palato-lingual contact.
As a conclusio n, training procedure with the DP is more effective than without DP for the treatment of misarticulation in cleft palate patients.
