Upton, L.G. & Berger, M.K. (1995). Use of pharyngoplasty to improve resonance in adult closed-head injury patients: Report of cases. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 53, 717-719.
Type of
Study
Case studies
Subjects 1 male; age 26; 6 months post-injury
1 male; age 34; 5 years 4 months post-injury
Diagnoses TBI
Speech
Condition
26 year old-flaccid-ataxic mixed dysarthria, moderate-severe hypernasality, consistent bilateral nasal emission, altered prosody, monotonicity, decreased rate, dysrhythmia, mild articulation distortions, mildly hoarse, decreased respiratory support for speech
34 year old-dysarthria, cognitive-communication deficits
Purpose To determine benefits of surgical intervention to treat hypernasality in TBI in two patients who did not like palatal lifts
Methods Pharyngeal flap surgery
Results Velopharyngeal competence improved in both subjects
34 year old still had mild hypernasality and hyponasality
Both subjects preferred the pharyngeal flap to palatal lifts
Treatment
Implications
Pharyngeal flaps should be considered for TBI patients, particularly if patients do not want to rely on palatal lifts
 
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