RESEARCH ARTICLE


Prosthodontic Rehabilitation of Arabic Speaking Individuals with Velopharyngeal Incompetence: A Preliminary Study



Abdel Rahim M. Bibars1, *, Firas S.D. Alfwaress2, Abed Al-Hadi Hamasha3, Zeid A. Al-Hourani1, Khader Almhdawi2
1 Department of Applied Dental Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
2 Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences; Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
3 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2017
Volume: 11
First Page: 436
Last Page: 446
Publisher ID: TODENTJ-11-436
DOI: 10.2174/1874210601711010436

Article History:

Received Date: 19/05/2017
Revision Received Date: 27/07/2017
Acceptance Date: 01/08/2017
Electronic publication date: 30/08/2017
Collection year: 2017

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Creative Commons License
© 2017 Bibars et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Applied Dental Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; Tel: +962-79-8620087; Fax: +962-2-720-1087; E-mail: abd.baibars@gmail.com


Abstract

Background:

Hypernasality is a frequently encountered problem in the speech of individuals with velopharyngeal incompetence. The use of palatal lift appliance (PLA) is the main treatment option for correction of velopharyngeal incompetence. The literature on the outcomes of using prosthetics treatment for Arabic speaking patients is scarce.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using PLA on hypernasality of Arabic speaking patients with velopharyngeal incompetence.

Methods:

Six participants with age ranging from 9 to 61 years (4 males and 2 females) were recruited between October 2013 and August 2014. Written informed consents were taken from all the adult participants/the guardians of under-aged participants. All patients exhibited hypernasality with different etiologies for velopharyngeal incompetence (head injury, cerebrovascular accident, and neurological disorders). They were treated with PLAs which were constructed to elevate the dysfunctional soft palate. Nasalance scores and perceptual speech acceptability ratings were measured/evaluated in both situations; with and without appliances. Paired t-test was used to analyze the perceptual ratings and nasalance scores in order to detect any significant change in hypernasality pre and post insertion of PLA.

Results:

There was a statistically significant decrease (p>0.05) in nasalance scores (Pa, Pi, Ma, Mi, a, i) after PLA insertion. The subtest /u/ showed insignificant change (p= 0.056). Perceptual ratings showed significant reduction in hypernasality which was consistent with nasalance measurements.

Conclusion:

PLAs can reduce hypernasality in Arabic speaking patients who suffer from velopharyngeal impairment.

Keywords: Velopharyngeal impairment, Velopharyngeal incompetence, Velopharyngeal insufficiency PLA, Palatal lift prosthesis, Prosthodontic rehabilitation, Velopharyngeal valve.