Pediatr. praxi. 2016;17(5):296-298 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2016.067

Occult cleft palate as the cause of velopharyngeal insufficiency

MUDr.Olga Košková^1,2,3, MUDr.Jitka Vokurková, Ph.D.^1,2,3, PaedDr.Václav Baslík³, MUDr.Pavel Horník⁴

¹ Oddělení dětské plastické chirurgie, Klinika dětské chirurgie, ortopedie a traumatologie, Fakultní nemocnice Brno

² Klinika popálenin a rekonstrukční chirurgie, Fakultní nemocnice Brno

³ Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno

⁴ Dětská ORL, s. r. o., Brno

Submucous cleft palate, uvula bifida and congenital short soft palate belong to less common diagnosis causing velopharyngeal

insufficiency. Correct diagnosis of this condition is far more difficult, compared to regular cleft cases; however, it may result in

serious impact on speech development. Early and correct diagnosis and synchronized effort among plastic surgeon, speech

pathologist and specialist in phoniatrics is essential for successful treatment. In our department, patients with submucous cleft

palate and patients with congenital short soft palate with clinical symptoms of velopharyngeal insufficiency are recommended

for surgery procedure. Children with hypernasal speech, delayed speech development, common otitis media and non-progressing

speech therapy should always be referred to a plastic surgeon and specialist in phoniatrics.

Keywords: submucous cleft palate, congenital short soft palate, uvula bifida, velopharyngeal insufficiency, hypernasal speech

Published: November 1, 2016  Show citation