Validity of auditory perceptual assessment of velopharyngeal function and dysfunction – the VPC-Sum and the VPC-Rate

ABSTRACT

Overall weighted or composite variables for perceptual auditory estimation of velopharyngeal closure or competence have been used in several studies for evaluation of velopharyngeal function during speech. The aim of the present study was to investigate the validity of a composite score (VPC-Sum) and of auditory perceptual ratings of velopharyngeal competence (VPC-Rate). Available VPC-Sum scores and judgments of associated variables (hypernasality, audible nasal air leakage, weak pressure consonants, and non-oral articulation) from 391 5-year olds with repaired cleft palate (the Scandcleft project) were used to investigate content validity, and 339 of these were compared with an overall judgment of velopharyngeal competence (VPC-Rate) on the same patients by the same listeners. Significant positive correlations were found between the VPC-Sum and each of the associated variables (Cronbachs alpha 0.55–0.87, P < 0.001), and a moderately significant positive correlation between VPC-Sum and VPC-Rate (Rho 0.698, P < 0.01). The latter classified cases well when VPC-Sum was dichotomized with 67% predicted velopharyngeal competence and 90% velopharyngeal incompetence. The validity of the VPC-Sum was good and the VPC-Rate a good predictor, suggesting possible use of both measures depending on the objective.

KEYWORDS:

• Audible nasal emission
• hypernasality
• velopharyngeal competence
• velopharyngeal closure
• velopharyngeal impairment
• VPI symptom

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest in this article. The content was in part presented as a poster at the 10th European Craniofacial Conference, June 2015, Gothenburg, Sweden and as an oral presentation at the 16th International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Association Conference, 15–18 June 2016, Halifax, Canada.

Funding

A contribution to the work described in this publication was made possible by grant numbers U01DE018664 and U01DE018837 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The article's contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIDCR.

Additional information

Funding

A contribution to the work described in this publication was made possible by grant numbers U01DE018664 and U01DE018837 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The article's contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIDCR.