What causes a weak soft palate?

Birth defects affecting their palate (roof of the mouth), such as cleft palate or an abnormally short palate. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Genetic conditions such as Down syndrome or neurofibromatosis. Muscle weakness from neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy.

What causes velopharyngeal insufficiency in adults?

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) occurs when there is improper closure of the soft palate against the pharyngeal wall during speech and swallowing that results in regurgitation through the nasal cavity and hypernasal speech (rhinolalia aperta). VPI is mainly a complication of adenoidectomy.

What is palatal insufficiency?

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) occurs when the back part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) and the pharynx (throat) don't work together to make a good seal when your child is talking. This is often caused by a soft palate that is too short or muscles of the palate that do not work well.

How does soft palate affect speech?

The soft palate is important in speech because it moves upwards and backwards when you talk. This movement, combined with the movement of the walls of the throat itself, separates the nose from the mouth, and makes sure that no air escapes inappropriately from the nose.

What are the symptoms of velopharyngeal dysfunction?

Deviated uvula and vagus nerve degeneration - Say AHHHH!

How can I improve my soft palate?

Soft palate exercises

Puff out your cheeks with air; continue to breathe in and out of your nose. Try yourself, or get someone else, to press a finger against your inflated cheeks. Remember to keep your lips firmly together. Do not allow the air to escape through your mouth or nose.

What is the best method of treatment for velopharyngeal insufficiency?

The treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency or velopharyngeal incompetence usually requires a surgical procedure (tonsillectomy, Furlow Z-plasty, pharyngeal flap, sphincter pharyngoplasty, or posterior pharyngeal wall implant).

Does the soft palate change with age?

Soft palate length also increased progressively with aging (R = 0.48; P <. 001, with the increase with age in women significantly more than the increase with age in men.

Does soft palate affect breathing?

Breathing. The soft palate separates the mouth and nose, acting as a barrier between the digestive and respiratory tracts. This function allows a person to breathe and eat at the same time. However, people are unable to swallow and breathe simultaneously.

What nerve controls the soft palate?

The soft palate has five muscles that receive innervation by the pharyngeal plexus of the vagus nerve, except for the tensor veli palatini muscle, which is innervated by a branch of the trigeminal nerve called the medial pterygoid nerve.

What are problems with the soft palate?

The soft palate is involved in several conditions and diseases in humans, including cleft palate, sleep apnea, and cancer. In cleft palate, the soft palate may have a fissure, causing failure of the palatal shelves (in the roof of the mouth) to close during prenatal development.

What would be a major symptom of palatal palsy?

Acquired isolated palatal palsy is a rare disease. It is commonly seen in children. It usually presents with acute onset nasal regurgitation of fluids, rhinolalia, and palatal asymmetry.

Is soft palate surgery necessary?

If the soft tissue at the back of the roof of your pets mouth (the soft palate) grows too long fot your pets head, a resection or removal is necessary to reduce any respiratory issues your furry friend may be experiencing.

How do you test for velopharyngeal insufficiency?

Oral motor assessment: A subjective oral motor assessment is completed by observing range of motion and speed of the lips and tongue and observing the soft palate and velar elevation when pronouncing the phoneme /ah/. Overall facial symmetry and muscle tone also are noted.

Why does my nasopharynx not close properly?

Nasal regurgitation is when swallowed food or fluid backtracks and enters the nose. This happens when the nasopharynx does not close properly, and it may indicate a problem with the nerves that empower muscles of the soft palate or throat.

What does velopharyngeal insufficiency sound like?

Nasal air emission occurs when air escapes through the nose on pressure consonants, and it can sound like puffs, squeaks or snorts, or it might make speech sound muffled. Children sometimes develop unusual speech sounds to compensate for their VPI.

What are the 2 functions of the soft palate?

The soft palate has an important role in speech and swallowing. It closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing to prevent nasal reflux and during phonation to produce certain sounds. The lesser palatine nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve, provides sensory innervation to the soft palate.

Can soft palate heal itself?

Most palatal injuries heal without medical intervention due to the palate's high healing capacity.

What causes inflammation of the soft palate?

The most common conditions that may cause an inflamed palate are mouth ulcers such as aphthae or those caused by cold sores. Also, an injury or trauma caused by any hard or very hot foods can cause an inflamed palate.

What is the first sense to decline as we age?

As we get older, our olfactory function declines. Not only do we lose our sense of smell, we lose our ability to discriminate between smells.

What does a normal soft palate look like?

Normally, this area is slightly less vascular than the oropharynx and is usually reddish pink in color (Figure 25). Observe the area as the patient says “ah.” The tissue should appear loose, mobile and symmetrical during function. The tissue will have a homogenous, spongy consistency on palpation.

Can I improve my palate?

The only way to reset your palate is to constantly bombard it with new flavours and textures training your taste buds to recognise new flavours and combinations. Visit Allow some time once or twice a week and do a palate cleansing exercise. Get a collection of new foods and try them on their own.

Who treats velopharyngeal insufficiency?

An ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT or otolaryngologist). Our experienced ENTs do special tests to check velopharyngeal function in children and perform surgery if needed.

What age is VPI surgery for?

The mean age of VPI surgery is between 5 and 10 years. Many children with CP and VPI receive extensive speech therapy, ^18–20 either alone or with VPI surgery.

What is the difference between velopharyngeal incompetence and insufficiency?

It is used to describe different disorders of the velopharyngeal valve. These include: Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which is due to abnormal structure. Velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), which is due to abnormal movement.