An evaluation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in the treatment of hypernasality following traumatic brain injury: a report of 3 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in the treatment of hypernasality following traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
An A-B-A experimental research design. Assessments were conducted prior to commencement of the program, midway, immediately posttreatment, and 1 month after completion of the CPAP therapy program.


METHODS
Three adults with dysarthria and moderate to severe hypernasality subsequent to TBI.


METHODS
Perceptual evaluation using the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, the Assessment of Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech, and a speech sample analysis, and instrumental evaluation using the Nasometer.


RESULTS
Between assessment periods, varying degrees of improvement in hypernasality and sentence intelligibility were noted. At the 1-month post-CPAP assessment, all 3 participants demonstrated reduced nasalance values, and 2 exhibited increased sentence intelligibility.


CONCLUSIONS
CPAP may be a valuable treatment of impaired velopharyngeal function in the TBI population.
Cahill
Louise M
LM
The Division of Speech Pathology, University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. L.Cahill@uq.edu.au
Turner
Aimee B
AB
Stabler
Penelope A
PA
Addis
Paula E
PE
Theodoros
Deborah G
DG
Murdoch
Bruce E
BE
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*