Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Synonyms

Inadequate Velopharyngeal Closure

Incompetence, Palatopharyngeal

Incompetence, Velopharyngeal

Insufficiency, Velopharyngeal

Palatopharyngeal Incompetence

Velopharyngeal Closures, Inadequate

Velopharyngeal Incompetence

Failure of the SOFT PALATE to reach the posterior pharyngeal wall to close the opening between the oral and nasal cavities. Incomplete velopharyngeal closure is primarily related to surgeries (ADENOIDECTOMY; CLEFT PALATE) or an incompetent PALATOPHARYNGEAL SPHINCTER. It is characterized by hypernasal speech.