title: Cleft palate speech and velopharyngeal insufficiency: surgical approach.
abstract: Velopharyngeal insufficiency is the main morbidity associated with clefting of the secondary palate. Therefore, it is important to monitor speech production in all children with a history of cleft palate. Diagnosis and management of velopharyngeal insufficiency is an important function of the cleft palate team. The surgical approach used in the Craniofacial Center at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA is presented. Assessment of velopharyngeal function, as it relates to surgical intervention and measurement of outcome, is reviewed. Surgical management using Furlow palatoplasty and sphincter pharyngoplasty is discussed.
authors: Childhood Communication Center, University of Washington, Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Kathleen.Sie@seattlechildrens.org
authors: K C Y
authors: KC
authors: Sie
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002933:Cineradiography; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D003657:Decision Making; D004724:Endoscopy; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology