velopharyngeal system

Question 1

velopharyngeal port

Answer 1

connection between nasal cavity and oral cavity; should be closed for all sounds but nasals; normal nasalance is 28%

Question 2

levator veli palitini

Answer 2

lifts the velum

Question 3

coronal closure pattern

Answer 3

levator veli palitini lifts the velum

Question 4

superior pharyngeal constrictor

Answer 4

horseshoe shaped muscle that gets bulky when contracts, adding mass to lateral and posterior walls of pharynx

Question 5

circular closure pattern

Answer 5

levator veli palitini raises velum, superior pharyngeal constrictor contracts and lateral and posterior walls bulk in to help close

Question 6

hypernasality

Answer 6

inappropriate connection between nasal an oral cavity resulting in hypernasal speech
to assess, want to use a phrase with no nasals or high-pressure sounds
“how are you”

Question 7

hyponasality

Answer 7

lack of nasal resonance on sounds that should be nasal
can only occur on nasal sounds
usually due to a cold; persistent hyponasality may warrant ENT referral
to assess, use a phrase with lots of nasals
“mommy made me mash my mnms”

Question 8

assimilative nasality

Answer 8

perceived nasal resonance on non-nasal sounds surrounded by nasals
some is normal, but if it’s perceived it’s abnormal
to assess, use a phrase with lots of nasals
“mommy made me mash my mnms”

Question 9

nasal air emission

Answer 9

burst of air from nose, like a snort
high-pressure sounds causing the VP port to blow open
to assess, want to use a phrase with lots of high-pressure sounds
“peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”

Question 10

cul de sac resonance

Answer 10

tongue is pulled back too far in mouth, nowhere for the air to go
to assess, use phrase with tongue/front sounds
“teatime”

Question 11

sleep apnea

Answer 11

cessation of breathing in sleep; frequently occurs in children 3-5 because soft tissues grow faster than bony structures meaning enlarged tonsils, small nasal passageways; problem if the child does not hit deep sleep will not get enough growth hormone

Question 12

velopharyngeal incompetence

Answer 12

tissues are complete, but neurological problem caused lack of innervation and inability to move structures; treatment is a palatal lift to block air from entering nasal cavity

Question 13

velopharyngeal insufficiency

Answer 13

neural innervation is typical but tissues are incomplete; treatment is an obturator that completes the tissues so client can use typical neural innervation to close VP port