Laryngeal Airway Resistance in Cleft Palate Children with Complete and Incomplete Velopharyngeal Closure

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Guyette ◽  
Anita J. Sanchez ◽  
Bonnie E. Smith
1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Zajac

Laryngeal airway resistance during vowel production was determined for 10 children without cleft palate and 14 children with cleft palate and adequate velopharyngeal function. The children with cleft palate were further grouped according to either complete or incomplete velopharyngeal closure. All children performed a syllable repetition task with nostrils occluded at self-determined effort and a targeted effort typical of adult speech. Results indicated that all children exhibited significantly greater laryngeal resistance at self-determined effort. No significant differences occurred among the groups of children at either effort level. Some children with incomplete velopharyngeal closure, however, tended to exhibit relatively increased laryngeal resistance at the targeted effort level when their nostrils were unoccluded. Implications for a regulation-control model of speech production and clinical assessment are discussed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannette D. Hoit ◽  
Thomas J. Hixon

An investigation was conducted to determine if laryngeal valving economy, as reflected in measures of laryngeal airway resistance during vowel production, differs with age in women. Seventy healthy women were studied, 10 each at age 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, and 85 years. Results indicated that laryngeal airway resistance did not differ significantly with age, although it was noted that the 45-year-old women generally had lower laryngeal airway resistance values. This pattern of function differs from that observed in men (Melcon, Hoit, & Hixon, 1989). Discussion of findings includes consideration of factors that might influence laryngeal function during speech production in women. Clinical implications are offered.


1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith R. Smitheran ◽  
Thomas J. Hixon

A noninvasive clinical method for estimating laryngeal airway resistance during vowel production is described. Resistance is calculated from the ratio of translaryngeal pressure to translaryngeal flow, the first determined from measurement of oral pressure and the second determine from measurement of airway-opening flow made during the production of a specially designed utterance. Application of the method to the study of vowels resulted in a calculated mean laryngeal airway resistance of 35.7 cm H 2 O/LPS for 15 normal adult males. This resistance value is remarkably similar to mean values obtained in previous research using complex invasive experimental methods. Clinical use of the method is illustrated in case studies that highlight both evaluation and management potentials. It is concluded that the method proposed is clinically practical, that the data it provides are both valid and reliable, and that the method shows great promise of becoming a routine clinical tool for estimating laryngeal airway resistance during vowel production.


2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 934-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Finnegan ◽  
Erich S. Luschei ◽  
Henry T. Hoffman

We tested the hypothesis that different strategies are used to alter tracheal pressure (P t ) during sustained and transient increases in intensity. It has been suggested that the respiratory system plays the primary role in P t changes associated with alteration in overall intensity, whereas laryngeal adjustment is primary for transient change in P t related to emphasis. Tracheal pressure, obtained via tracheal puncture, airflow (U), and laryngeal electromyography from the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA EMG) were collected from 6 subjects during sentence production at different intensity levels and with various stress patterns. Using a technique described in a previous study, we computed lower airway resistance (R law ) from measures of P t and U obtained during a sudden change in upper airway resistance. We used this resistance value, together with direct measures of P t and U during speech, to derive a time-varying measure of alveolar pressure (P a ), the pressure created by respiratory muscle activity and elastic recoil of the lungs. P a provided a measure of respiratory drive that was unaffected by laryngeal activity. Laryngeal airway resistance (R lx ) and TA EMG provided measures of laryngeal activity. The results of this study indicated that, contrary to the outcome predicted by the hypothesis, there was no difference in the strategies used to alter P t during sustained and transient increases in intensity. Although changes in both P a and R lx contributed to increase in P t , the contribution of P a was substantially greater. On average, P a contributed to 94% and R lx to 6% of the increase in P t associated with vocal intensity. A secondary purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which laryngeal muscle activity was related to R lx during speech. We found TA EMG activity increased with intensity but was not well correlated with R lx , suggesting that when it contracts, the TA muscle may affect intensity by loosening the cover, which allows for greater amplitude of vocal fold vibration, without necessarily increasing laryngeal airway resistance.


2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Tachimura ◽  
Kanji Nohara ◽  
Yoshinori Fujita ◽  
Takeshi Wada

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether a speech-aid prosthesis normalizes the activity of the levator veli palatini muscle for patients with cleft palate who exhibit velopharyngeal incompetence. Design: Each subject was instructed to produce repetitions of /mu/, /u/, /pu/, /su/, and /tsu/ and to blow with maximum possible effort. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the levator veli palatini muscle was recorded with and without a hybrid speech-aid prosthesis in place. Participants: The participants were five patients with repaired cleft palate who were routinely wearing a hybrid speech-aid prosthesis. Results: With the prosthesis in place, the mean value of levator activity changed positively in relation to oral air-pressure change during blowing. Differences in levator activity in relation to speech samples were similar to those in normal speakers. With the prosthesis in place, levator activity for speech tasks was less than 50% of the maximum levator activity for all subjects. The findings were similar to those reported previously for normal speakers. Conclusion: Placement of the prosthesis changed EMG activity levels of the levator veli palatini muscle to levels that are similar to normal speakers. It is possible that, with the increase in the differential levator activity between speech and a maximum force task, the velopharyngeal mechanism has a greater reserve capacity to maintain velopharyngeal closure compared with the noprosthesis condition.


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