Speech Assessment of Abnormal Resonance and Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Ann W. Kummer, PhD Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center  Effects of Cleft Palate and VPI on Speech and Resonance 1. Abnormal resonance (sound) 2. Nasal air emission (airflow and air pressure) 3. Dysphonia What is resonance for speech? • Modification of the sound that is generated from the vocal cords • Provides the quality of perceived sound during speech What determines resonance for speech? • Size and shape of the resonating cavities • pharyngeal cavity • oral cavity • nasal cavity • Function of the velopharyngeal valve Size and Shape of Cavities Resonance for speech is affected by the following: • Length and volume of pharynx • Size and shape of oral cavity • Configuration of nasal cavity Size and Shape of Cavities • Shorter/smaller cavities: enhance higher formants • Longer/larger cavities: enhance lower formants Size and Shape of Cavities • Differences between – children and adults – men and women – tall people and short people • Makes voice quality unique to individual Resonance and Vowels • Vowels are resonance sounds • They are produced by changing the size and shape of the oral (resonating) cavity  NORMAL VELOPHARYNGEAL FUNCTION Structures Active in VP Closure • Velum (Soft Palate) • Lateral Pharyngeal Walls (LPWs) • Posterior Pharyngeal Wall (PPW)