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What is velopharyngeal insufficiency?

Author

Emily Dawson

Published Mar 13, 2026

What is velopharyngeal insufficiency?

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) happens when the velum (the soft palate) and nearby parts of the mouth can’t close itself to the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx separates the oral and nasal cavities. You use it to make the sounds of consonants when you speak.

How is velopharyngeal insufficiency treated?

Treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency consists of speech therapy and surgical correction by a palatal elongation pushback procedure, posterior pharyngeal wall implant, pharyngeal flap, or pharyngoplasty, depending on the mobility of the lateral pharyngeal walls, the degree of velar elevation, and the size of the …

What are the symptoms of Velopharyngeal dysfunction?

What are the Signs and Symptoms of VPD?

  • Excessively nasal speech quality (also known as hypernasality)
  • Leakage of air through the nose while speaking.
  • Speech which sounds weak or muffled.
  • Abnormal articulation.
  • Leakage of food or liquid through the nose while eating.

What happens when the Velopharyngeal port Cannot close during the production of non nasal sounds?

If complete closure does not occur during speech, this can cause hypernasality (a resonance disorder) and/or audible nasal emission during speech (a speech sound disorder). In addition, there may be inadequate airflow to produce most consonants, making them sound weak or omitted.

What sounds does Velopharyngeal insufficiency affect?

When a child has VPI, the pressure consonants may sound weak or muffled. As air escapes through the nose, it may sound like puffs, squeaks or snorts.

What is the difference between velopharyngeal incompetence and insufficiency?

Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which is due to abnormal structure. Velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), which is due to abnormal movement. Velopharyngeal mislearning, which is due to abnormal speech sound production.

Is Velopharyngeal insufficiency genetic?

A genetic cause of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is identified in about one-third of children referred with VPI and/or indistinct speech and associated features. Microarray analysis is recommended as a first-line test in all children with VPI and associated features.

Which of the following are the three types of velopharyngeal dysfunction?

There are 3 types.

  • +Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) occurs when there is not enough (“insufficient”) tissue in the palate or throat to let the palate contact the back of the throat during speech.
  • +Velopharyngeal mislearning (VPM)
  • +Velopharyngeal incompetence (VP incompetence)

What is the difference between Velopharyngeal insufficiency and incompetence?

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.

Who is at risk for velopharyngeal dysfunction?

The result is called velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). VPD is most common in children as it is often associated with other birth/genetic conditions or surgical procedures, such as the removal of tonsils or adenoids.

Who treats Velopharyngeal insufficiency?

Velopharyngeal incompetence (VP incompetence) means there is a problem in how the soft palate moves to make speech sounds. It is possible to have more than one type of VPD. A speech and language pathologist (SLP) specializing in VPD will help determine what types your child has.

What is another name for velopharyngeal insufficiency?

Velopharyngeal insufficiency. Other names. VPI. Specialty. Oral and maxillofacial surgery. Velopharyngeal insufficiency is a disorder of structure that causes a failure of the velum (soft palate) to close against the posterior pharyngeal wall (back wall of the throat) during speech in order to close off the nose (nasal cavity)

What is velopharyngeal incompetence?

Terminology. Velopharyngeal incompetency occurs when the soft palate and the lateral/posterior pharyngeal walls fail to separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity during speech.

How do you test for velopharyngeal insufficiency?

Speech analysis. Velopharyngeal insufficiency can be diagnosed by a speech pathologist through a perceptual speech assessment. Speech characteristics of VPI include hypernasality (too much sound in the nasal cavity during speech) and/or audible nasal emission of air during speech.

What is velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI)?

Velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI) is a malfunction of a velopharyngeal mechanism. The velopharyngeal mechanism is responsible for directing the transmission of sound energy and air pressure in both the oral cavity and the nasal cavity.