Standardization of the nasolaryngoscopic test for the study of alterations in the velopharyngeal sphincter

Abstract

Thirty normal subjects were submitted to nasopharyngoscopy. The goal of this study was to present a screening protocol for standardization of nasopharyngoscopy in order to assess velopharyngeal function. In this study it was observed that during the activity of holding air inside the mouth, 57% of the individuals did not close the velopharyngeal sphincter. The same thing occurred during the emission of the vowel /a/ in 47% of the individuals. Concerning the patterns of velopharyngeal closure, the results approached the ones of previous studies.