The Velopharyngeally Inadequate Child - Phonological Change With Intervention

Diagnostic therapy is often recommended for children before physical management of the velopharyngeal structures. There is, however, limited information about the effectiveness of such intervention programs. This study describes the changes that occurred in a 3-year-old child's production of speech during a period of diagnostic therapy, and the changes that occurred following the fitting of a prosthesis. The mother served as the primary intervener, guided by a speech-language pathologist. The mother was able to change the child's speech so that more of her productions were at a correct place of articulation. After structural management, nasal and glottalized productions disappeared from the child's speech, but glottal stops did not.