ACOUSTIC RHINOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF CHANGES IN VELAR POSITIONING

Acoustic rhinometry as a means to detect changes in velar position was examined in this study, Videofluoroscopic recordings were made of two normal speakers maintaining velopharyngeal open and velopharyngeal cl osed (silent /f/) targets, Simultaneous acoustic rhinometric recording s were made during the production of each stimulus, Determinations of changes in velar positioning during the closed samples were made from fluoroscopic recordings and compared to nasal cavity-nasopharynx chang es detected by rhinometry, The excellent agreement between the measure s from the two procedures (less than 1 cm) indicates that acoustic rhi nometry is capable of detecting changes in velar positioning during '' silent'' speech, Implications for assessment and future research are d iscussed.