Auditory-perceptual and acoustic analysis of patients undergoing palatoplasty

Abstract

The most common phonation changes in patients with cleft lip and palate are: hypernasality, compensatory articulation, weak intraoral pressure and nasal air leak. The literature refers to the use of auditory-perceptual assessment in phonation analysis as the most used method by speech therapists, being considered gold standard. However, it depends on the experience of the hearing evaluators who must be highly trained. Therefore, complementary tests are supposed to extend the range of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. So, there is a need for a simple, objective and non-invasive test to be used in the routine care of this individual. The objective of this study is to characterize, using auditory-perceptual analysis, the speech and voice profile of a group of patients who underwent palatoplasty in the state of Rio de Janeiro, comparing these findings to the parameters found in acoustic analysis and in the literature. An interview was carried out based on the orofacial myofunctional assessment protocol for individuals with cleft lip and palate. The entire process was recorded on a video camera and directly in the acoustic analysis program using Voxmetria version 2.7, from CTS Informática, with the aid of a noise-reducing microphone. It was concluded that the auditory-perceptual and acoustic characterization of the speech and voice profile of patients who underwent palatoplasty is consistent with data obtained in the literature in other reference centers around the world. Furthermore, acoustic analysis showed statistical significance when compared to auditory-perceptual analysis, extending the range of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.