Abstract
To clarify the effectiveness of speech aid appliance (SAA) in cleft palate patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).102 cleft lip and palate patients underwent prosthodontic treatment and follow-up for 5 years at the speech clinic of School of Denti-str y, Showa University were assessed.
The results were as follows:
1. The early operation group of 49 (88 %) patients showed more satisfactory results than the late operation group of 12 (52 %) patients.
2. In the early operation group,42 (95 %) patients wearing SAA before 6 years old showed more satisfactory results than 6 (55 %) patients wearing them at 7-18 years old.
3. In the late operation group,3 (100 %) patients wearing SAA before 6 y ears old showed more satisfactory results than 20 (43 %) patients wearing them after 7 years old.
4. Fifty-three (85 %) patients wearing speech bulb appliances (SBA) ach ieved adequate velopharyngeal function after one year of treatment. Eleven patients with severe VPI wore both SBA and palatal lift prosthesis (PLP). Five patients with slight VPI wore PLP.
5. Most patients achieved adequate or marginally adequate velopharyngeal func tion in less than 6 months of use. The early operation group had higher improvement rate than the late operation group.
6. In the early operation group, SAA of 40 % of the patients was removed without surgical treatment and that of 60 % of the patients with surgical treatment.
7. In the late operation group, SAA of 30 % of the pat ients was removed without surgical treatment and that of 70 % of the patients with surgical treatment.
8. Five patients who wore SAA permanently had unsat isfactory results.
