INTEGRATED ENDOSCOPIC PHOTODETECTOR EVALUATION OF VELOPHARYNGEAL FUNCTION

A new integrated videoendoscopic/photodetection system, including an e ndoscope with an internal instrument channel used for photodetection, was applied to the evaluation of velopharyngeal closure in a subject w ith marginal velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and in a subject with no speech disorder. Acoustic and aerodynamic speech assessments were u sed to establish the severity of velopharyngeal impairment in the marg inal VPI patient. A light-out condition was used to establish the phot odetector criterion for closure. The new system was effective for prov iding detailed phonetic assessment of velopharyngeal closure. Variatio ns in degree of closure during select oral and nasal consonant product ions were identified in the VPI subject but not in the normal speaking subject. The data show that important details of velopharyngeal insuf ficiency can be identified using the integrated endoscopic/photodetect ion system.