Effects of simultaneous nasometer and nasopharyngeal fibroscopic examination on the value of nasalization rate in cleft palate patients

Objective: To evaluate the changes of nasalance when cleft palate patients examined using nasometer and nasopharyngeal fiberscopy simultaneously. Methods: A total of 33 cleft palate patients from August 2004 to August 2010 were examined by nasopharyngeal fiber endoscopy and nasometer simultaneously. The nasalance of 33 voice samples was compared under two situations only nasometer and nasometer with nasopharyngeal fiberscopy. Results: The statistics showed that the nasalance value of 33 voice samples of 33 participants under different situations were no significant difference through paired t-test (P>0.05). Conclusions: Nasopharyn fiber endoscopy had no influence to the results of the nasalance value under simultaneous condition. The nasometer and nasopharyn fiber endoscopy can be applied to evaluate the velopharyngeal function of cleft palate patients simultaneously.