Assessment and modification of oral-nasal balance in speakers of Brazilian Portuguese with cleft palate

Many individuals with cleft palate have hypernasal speech, which affects speech intelligibility and acceptability and is socially stigmatizing. The proposed studies relate to the assessment and the behavioural modification of oral-nasal balance in speech. The first study will test a new assessment procedure for hypernasality and other oral-nasal balance disorders which will aid clinicians in more accurately assessing their patients. The second study will explore the effect of voice focus adjustments in hypernasalspeakers with cleft palate. We expect that changing voice focus will allow patients to reduce their hypernasality. In addition, Brazilian Portuguese features nasalized vowels, whereas English does not. By conducting these studies with speakers of Brazilian Portuguese we can begin to develop assessment and treatment methods that work across languages. Taken together, the two studies have the potential to considerably change and advance the assessment of oral-nasal balance disorders and the treatment of hypernasality.

Faculty Supervisor:

Tim Bressmann

Student:

Partner:

Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquita Filho"

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Globalink Research Award