Usefulness of nasometers for evaluation of velopharyngeal competence in children with cleft lip and palate

Abstract

In our department, we performed velopharyngeal competence examinations in patients with cleft lip and palate who were suspected of having nasopharyngeal dysraphism. The essential velopharyngeal competence examinations include inspection of the palate, nasopharyngeal fiberscopy, aerodynamic assessment and radiographic lateral view of the soft palate. An examination using a nasometer can be employed as a complemental evaluation of velopharyngeal competence. The assessment using a nasometer involves providing nasalance scores; however, appropriate values or evaluation methods in the patients with cleft lip and palate have not been well established. The aim of this study was to establish the application of nasometer in the evaluation of velopharyngeal competence. Sixty-four patients who had been assessed with a nasometer participated in this study. We found that the results of the basic velopharyngeal competence examinations were significantly correlated with those of the examinations performed with a nasometer in the sound “shi”. Our results of the study suggest that a nasalance score of less than 50% in the sound “shi” might be an appropriate indicator of dysfunction in the evaluation of velopharyngeal competence in children with cleft lip and palate.