Effect of speech timing on velopharyngeal function, The

During normal speech, the soft palate elevates to separate the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. This process is referred to as velopharyngeal function, and it allows speakers to direct air and sound out of the mouth. If the soft palate does not function adequately, then air and sound will leak through the velopharyngeal port and out of the nose, and speech will exhibit a nasal quality. It is likely that the timing of speech (such as slow versus fast speaking rates) can affect velopharyngeal function and the opening/closing of the velopharyngeal port, but we do not have a good understanding of how speech timing affects the control of the velopharyngeal port opening/closing. The purpose of this project is to study the effect of three speech timing conditions on velopharyngeal function in individuals with normal speech. The purpose of this study was to assess velopharyngeal function by measuring intranasal pressure, nasal airflow, and intramural pressure signals that were acquired simultaneously during productions of the word "pamper" under three speech timing conditions. Mean velopharyngeal timing and velopharyngeal port measurements across the three timing conditions will be presented.