Hypernasality & Other Voice Disorders

"Hypernasality" (also called "velopharyngeal insufficiency" or VPI) is a speech disorder that can range from one that is very subtle to be so severe that only you can understand what he or she is saying. Recognizing the importance of treating this challenge, NewYork-Presbyterian's children's hospitals have created dedicated programs for children with hypernasality and other voice problems. Your child can receive all the care he or she needs through one medical center.

About our programs

Experts in our programs strive to provide an accurate diagnosis and effective treatments to improve your child's speech and enhance his or her quality of life. We perform a thorough assessment of your child's anatomy and speech and customize a plan of care to improve how they speak. All of the diagnostic testing and treatments your child may need are available through our comprehensive programs.

What we treat

Our teams include experts in the diagnosis and treatment of hypernasality. The problem originates in the "velopharynx," the division between the back of the mouth and the back of the nose — two areas usually separated by the soft palate, which helps to seal off that region. When these tissues do not close properly, air can escape through the nose during speech, causing hypernasality. Our voice specialists also treat:

• Chronic hoarseness
• Nasal regurgitation
• Cleft palate-related voice problems
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Vocal cord nodules

Our approach to care

• We work with speech therapists to provide your child with a thorough assessment and diagnosis using a comprehensive approach called "perceptual speech analysis."
• We assess your child with a "video-nasopharyngoscopy," in which we insert a flexible fiberoptic telescope into the nose to see the anatomy of the nasopharynx.
• We use a full range of diagnostic tests, including videofluoroscopy of the neck, to evaluate the way your child's velopharyngeal valve closes.

Treatments we offer

Nonsurgical treatments

For many children, we can correct hypernasality with speech therapy. We work closely with a dedicated, skilled team of speech pathologists with expertise in velopharyngeal insufficiency. We may recommend a special device to lift your child's palate or to help seal off the back of the throat.

Surgery

If your child's velopharyngeal insufficiency is best corrected with surgery, our surgeons have years of clinical experience performing even the most complicated surgeries to correct hypernasality, including techniques such as:

• Furlow palatoplasty
• Sphincter pharyngoplasty
• Intervelar veloplasty
• Pharyngeal flap

Why choose us

Severely hypernasal speech can affect your child socially, which can seriously affect self-esteem, emotional development and growth, and even academic performance if the child is not confident enough to participate in class. When you bring your child to NewYork-Presbyterian for assessment and treatment, you'll receive excellent care from experts in dedicated programs who see this problem regularly and have the experience and compassion to treat it effectively. Call today to make an appointment with one of our pediatric voice specialists.