The Modified Tongue-Anchor Technique as a Screening Test for Velopharyngeal Inadequacy

Abstract

Pressure-flow assessment of velopharyngeal (v-p) orifice size was used to test the accuracy with which tongue-anchor task results categorize patients differing in v-p adequacy status. The results indicate that this screening task was fairly accurate in identifying patients with v-p adequacy as defined by aerodynamic assessment (specificity=0.85). It was not quite as accurate in correctly categorizing patients with inadequacy (sensitivity=0.78). The predictive power of this screening test and its utility in a school setting are discussed.