Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Speech Results After Surgical Treatment for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents With Cleft Palate

Schaar Johansson, Malin LU orcid ; Becker, Magnus LU orcid ; Stiernman, Mia LU and Klintö, Kristina LU orcid (2026) In Cleft Palate - Craniofacial Journal
Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate degree of speech improvement and adverse effects after secondary velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) surgery in individuals with cleft palate with or without cleft lip/alveolus (CP ± L), and to examine whether any patient- or treatment-related factors were associated with treatment efficacy.DesignRetrospective intervention study.SettingA regional public care university hospital in Sweden.Patients, ParticipantsSeventy-eight children and adolescents born with CP ± L who had undergone secondary VPD surgery between 2007 and 2024.InterventionsSecondary pharyngoplasty or palatoplasty.Main Outcome MeasuresBlinded pre- and postoperative perceptual assessments by 4 independent speech language pathologists of hypernasality,... (More)

ObjectiveTo investigate degree of speech improvement and adverse effects after secondary velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) surgery in individuals with cleft palate with or without cleft lip/alveolus (CP ± L), and to examine whether any patient- or treatment-related factors were associated with treatment efficacy.DesignRetrospective intervention study.SettingA regional public care university hospital in Sweden.Patients, ParticipantsSeventy-eight children and adolescents born with CP ± L who had undergone secondary VPD surgery between 2007 and 2024.InterventionsSecondary pharyngoplasty or palatoplasty.Main Outcome MeasuresBlinded pre- and postoperative perceptual assessments by 4 independent speech language pathologists of hypernasality, nasal airflow errors, weak articulation, velopharyngeal competence (VPC), and speech acceptability.ResultsThere were statistically significant improvements by 1 unit in median ratings of all speech variables after VPD surgery. Sixty percent had improved hypernasality, 54% had improved VPC, and 59% had improved acceptability. Of participants with moderate-severe preoperative hypernasality, hypernasality improved for 81%. Odds of improved hypernasality were significantly lower for participants with than without additional conditions (odds ratio [OR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05-0.81). There were no statistically significant associations between odds of improved speech ratings and age at intervention or presence of neurodevelopmental disorders.ConclusionsSpeech ratings significantly improved after VPD surgery. Hypernasality was more likely to improve for patients with moderate-severe hypernasality than those with mild hypernasality. Hypernasality was also less likely to improve in patients with than without additional conditions. These results can be used to tailor surgical decision making for patients with CP ± L.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Cleft Palate - Craniofacial Journal
article number
10556656261492444
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:42803923
ISSN
1545-1569
DOI
10.1177/10556656261492444
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9271e113-c139-4b12-8fe6-415b70035c1e
date added to LUP
2026-09-29 08:50:12
date last changed
2026-09-29 08:50:12
@article{9271e113-c139-4b12-8fe6-415b70035c1e,
  abstract     = {{<p>ObjectiveTo investigate degree of speech improvement and adverse effects after secondary velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) surgery in individuals with cleft palate with or without cleft lip/alveolus (CP ± L), and to examine whether any patient- or treatment-related factors were associated with treatment efficacy.DesignRetrospective intervention study.SettingA regional public care university hospital in Sweden.Patients, ParticipantsSeventy-eight children and adolescents born with CP ± L who had undergone secondary VPD surgery between 2007 and 2024.InterventionsSecondary pharyngoplasty or palatoplasty.Main Outcome MeasuresBlinded pre- and postoperative perceptual assessments by 4 independent speech language pathologists of hypernasality, nasal airflow errors, weak articulation, velopharyngeal competence (VPC), and speech acceptability.ResultsThere were statistically significant improvements by 1 unit in median ratings of all speech variables after VPD surgery. Sixty percent had improved hypernasality, 54% had improved VPC, and 59% had improved acceptability. Of participants with moderate-severe preoperative hypernasality, hypernasality improved for 81%. Odds of improved hypernasality were significantly lower for participants with than without additional conditions (odds ratio [OR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05-0.81). There were no statistically significant associations between odds of improved speech ratings and age at intervention or presence of neurodevelopmental disorders.ConclusionsSpeech ratings significantly improved after VPD surgery. Hypernasality was more likely to improve for patients with moderate-severe hypernasality than those with mild hypernasality. Hypernasality was also less likely to improve in patients with than without additional conditions. These results can be used to tailor surgical decision making for patients with CP ± L.</p>}},
  author       = {{Schaar Johansson, Malin and Becker, Magnus and Stiernman, Mia and Klintö, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{1545-1569}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Cleft Palate - Craniofacial Journal}},
  title        = {{Speech Results After Surgical Treatment for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents With Cleft Palate}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10556656261492444}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/10556656261492444}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}