Prosthetic and Speech Management of Patients with Velopharyngeallncompetence

This article deals with a description of techniques used to assess patients with dysarthria of speech and accompanying velopharyngeal incompetence. A survey of perceptual and instrumental methods for assessing speech proficiency pre· and post-palatal /ift placement are discussed. Emphasis is placed upon the continuing evaluation of respiratory, phonatory, resonatory and articulatory components of speech for the effective application of the lift appliance. A representative patient is presented to illustrate the evaluation process.