Although the validity of the pressure-flow technique has been verified in a number of laboratories, some questions still remain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the procedures involved in estimating orifice size affect the pressure and airflow variables being measured. Twenty subjects with demonstrated velopharyngeal inadequacy on pressure-flow testing (VPO ≥ 0.10 cm2) were assessed under two contrasting conditions. Subjects were asked to produce /p/ in the word “hamper” with a) one nostril occluded by a cork as in pressure-flow testing and b) both nostrils patent. The results indicate that the increased nasal resistance resulting from occlusion of one nostril does not appreciably affect pressure and airflow associated with plosive consonant production in patients with velopharyngeal inadequacy.
BlrnthalJ.E., BeukelmanD.R.. Intraoral air pressure during the production of /p/ and /b/ by children, youths, and adults.J Speech Hear Res1978; 21: 361–371.
2.
DalstonR.M., WarrenD.W., MorrK.E., SmithL.R.. Intraoral pressure and its relationship to velopharyngeal inadequacy.Cleft Palate J1988; 25: 210–219.
3.
GuyetteT.W., CarpentfrM.A.. Accuracy of pressure-flow estimates of velopharyngeal orifice size in an analog model and human subjects.J Speech Hear Res1988; 31: 537–548.
4.
HairfieldW.M., WarrenD.W., HintonV.A., SeatonD.L.. Inspiratory and expiratory effects of nasal breathing.Cleft Palate J1987; 24: 183–189.
LubkerJ.C.. Velopharyngeal orifice area: a replication of analog experimentation.J Speech Hear Res1969; 12: 218–222.
7.
MinsleyG.E., HintonV.A., WarrenD.W.. Physiological responses to maxillary resection and subsequent obturation.Am J Prosthodont1987; 57: 338–344.
8.
MinsleyG.E., WarrenD.W., HintonV.A.. Maintenance of intraoral pressure during speech after maxillary resection.J Acoust Soc Am1988; 82: 820–824.
9.
MorrK.E., WarrenD.W., DalstonR.M., SmithL.R.. Intraoral speech pressures after experimental loss of velar resistance.Folia Phoniatr1988; 40: 284–289.
10.
MüllerE.M., BrownW.S.Jr. Variations in the supraglottal air pressure waveform and their articulatory interpretation.Speech Lang Adv Basic Res Pract1980; 4: 17–389.
11.
PutnamA.H.B., SheltonR.L., KastnerC.U.. Intraoral air pressure and oral airflow under different bleed and bite-block conditions.J Speech Hear Res1986; 29: 37–49.
12.
SchererR.C.. Fluid mechanics of the velopharyngeal tract.J Acoust Soc Am1988; 83: 5112.
13.
SmithB.E., MaddoxC.M., KostinskiA.B.. Model velopharyngeal orifice area prediction during simulated stop consonant production in the presence of increased nasal airway resistance.Cleft Palate J1985; 22: 149–153.
14.
SmithB.E., MoonJ.B., WeinbergB.. The effects of increased nasal airway resistance on modeled velopharyngeal orifice area estimation.Cleft Palate J1984; 21: 18–21.
15.
SmithB.E., WeinbergB.. Prediction of velopharyngeal orifice area: a re-examination of model experimentation.Cleft Palate J1980; 17: 277–282.
SubtelnyJ.D., WokthJ.H., SkausaM.. Intraoral pressure and rate of flow during speech.J Speech Hear Res1966; 9: 498–518.
18.
WatsonR.M., WarrenD.W., FischerN.D.. Nasal resistance, skeletal classification and mouth breathing in orthodontic patients.Am J Orthodont1968; 54: 367–379.
19.
WarrenD.W.. Aerodynamics of speech. In: LassN., McReynoldsJ., NorthernJ., YoderD.. eds. Speech, Language and Hearing.Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1982.
20.
WarrenD.W.. Commentary.The pressure-flow method: some fundamental concepts. Cleft Palate J1990; 27: 198–199.
21.
WarrenD.W.. Compensatory speech behaviors in cleft palate: a regulation/control phenomenon?Cleft Palate J1986; 23: 251–260.
22.
WarkenD.W.. Nasal emission of air and velopharyngeal function.Cleft Palate J1967; 4: 148–156.
23.
WarrenD.W.. Perci: a method for rating palatal efficiency.Cleft Palate J1979; 16: 279–285.
24.
WarrenD.W.. A quantitative technique for assessing nasal airway impairment.Am J Orthodont1984; 86: 306–314.
25.
WarrenD.W., AllenG., KingH.A.. Physiologic and perceptual effects of induced anterior open-bite.Folia Phoniatr1984; 36: 164–173.
26.
WarrenD.W., DalstonR.M., MorrK.E., HariheldW.M., SmithL.R.. The speech regulating system: temporal and aerodynamic responses to velopharyngeal inadequacy.J Speech Hear Res1989a; 32: 566–575.
27.
WarrenD.W., DalstonR.M., TrierW.C., HolderM.B.. A pressure-flow technique for quantifying temporal patterns of palatopharyngeal closure.Cleft Palate J1985; 22: 11–19.
28.
WarrenD.W., DuBoisA.B.. A pressure-flow technique for measuring velopharyngeal orifice area during continuous speech.Cleft Palate J1964; 52–71.
29.
WarrenD.W., HairfieldW.M., DalstonE.T.. Inspiratory/expiratory difference in nasal airway of children with cleft.J Dent Res1990; 69: 284.
30.
WarrenD.W., HallD.J., DavisJ.. Oral port constriction and pressure-airflow relationships during sibilant productions.Folia Phoniatr1981; 33: 380–393.
31.
WahrenD.W., MorrK.E., RochetA.P., DalstonR.M.. Respiratory response to a decrease in velopharyngeal resistance.J Acoust Soc Am1989b; 86: 917–924.
32.
WarrenD.W., NelsonG., AllenG.D.. Effects of increased vertical dimension on oral port size and fricative intelligibility.J Acoust Soc Am1980; 67: 1828–1831.
33.
YatesC., McWilliamsB.J., VallinoL.. The pressure-flow method: some fundamental concepts.Cleft Palate J1990; 27: 193–198.
34.
DalstonR.M., WarrenD.W., MorrK.E., SmithL.R.. Intraoral pressure and its relationship to velopharyngeal inadequacy.Cleft Palate J1988; 25: 210–219.
35.
MorrK.E., PutnamA.H.B., WarrenD.W.. Respiratory response to a loss of velar tissue, J Acoust Soc Am1987; 82: 17.
36.
WarrenD.W.. Aerodynamics of speech. In: LassN., McReynoldsJ., NorthernJ., YoderD.. eds. Speech, Language and Hearing.Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1982.
37.
WarrenD.W.. Nasal emission of air and velopharyngeal function.Cleft Palate J1967; 4: 148–156.
38.
WarrenD.W.. Compensatory speech behaviors in cleft palate: a regulation/control phenomenon?Cleft Palate J1986; 23: 251–260.
39.
WarrenD.W., DalstonR.M., TrierW.C., HolderM.B.. A pressure-flow technique for quantifying temporal patterns of palatopharyngeal closure.Cleft Palate J1985; 22: 11–19.
40.
WarrenD.W., DuBoisA.B.. A pressure-flow technique for measuring velopharyngeal orifice area during continuous speech.Cleft Palate J1964; 152–171.
