Cognitive functions in Arabic-speaking children with velopharyngeal insufficiency and their impact on speech intelligibility

Abstract

Abstract Background Patients with orofacial cleft are at high risk for neurobehavioral problems including learning disability, impaired language function, psychosocial adjustment issues, and persistently reduced academic achievement. All these factors may be related to decrease intellectual abilities of those patients. The presence of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) leads to affection of speech intelligibility due to atypical consonant productions, abnormal nasal resonance, nasal air emission, compensatory articulatory mechanism, and facial grimace. Objective This study aimed at assessing the cognitive functions of patients with (VPI) and their effect on speech intelligibility. Methodology Fifty patients with (VPI) were selected from the Outpatient Clinic of the Phoniatric Unit in Assiut University Hospital. All patients were evaluated by protocol of nasality assessment including auditory perceptual assessment of speech, assessment of overall intelligibility of speech, nasoendoscopy, and psychometric evaluation. Results The mean intelligence quotient (IQ) of patients with VPI was 75.2 ± 14.5 with a range between 41 and 107. The main defect was present in quantitative potential and then verbal ability followed by visual ability with memory having the highest mean. Patients with repaired cleft palate had the highest score (86.53 ± 9.96), while the least score was reported among those with velopharyngeal disproportion (72.50 ± 9.59). There was a nonsignificant negative correlation between IQ degree and speech unintelligibility (p = 0.82). Conclusion About half of the patients with (VPI) have below average mentality. Patients with repaired cleft palate had the highest (IQ) score. Increased (IQ) score was accompanied by decreased speech unintelligibility, although it does not reach the level of significance.