A technique of speech aid adjustment with the assistance of nasalance values for non-nasal and nasal sounds

Abstract

Evaluation of speech function is essential to maxillofacial prosthetic treatment. Measurement of nasalance with a nasometer is practical and typically done to detect hypernasality in maxillofacial defect patients. This case report describes a nasalance test used in the evaluation and rehabilitation of a patient who needed a speech aid. A 70-year-old man sought help at our clinic because his old speech aid had broken. Although a new speech aid was fabricated, he continued to have difficulty speaking and breathing. A nasalance test using nasal and non-nasal test words revealed hyponasality. The patient was satisfied with the speech aid after its adjustment in accordance with the nasalance test results. Nasalance testing that considers not only hypernasality but hyponasality helped the maxillofacial prosthodontist in the successful rehabilitation of this maxillofacial defect patient. (Int J Maxillofac Prosthetics 2020;3:23-27)