Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to determine maxillary arch dimensions of children with repaired cleft lip and palate (CLP) who produced middorsum palatal stops and (b) to describe some spectral characteristics of middorsum palatal stops.
METHOD
Maxillary arch width, length, and height dimensions and first spectral moments of /t/-/k/ contrast words were determined for three groups of children ages 7-11 years: (a) with CLP who were clinically judged to produce middorsum palatal stops ( n = 5), (b) with CLP but without middorsum palatal stops ( n = 6), and (c) typically developing controls ( n = 8). Validity of clinical judgments of middorsum palatal stops was assessed by adult listeners via forced-choice identification of /t/-/k/ contrast words.
RESULTS
Listeners confirmed production of middorsum palatal stops for 4 of 5 children with CLP. These children had (a) the narrowest anterior maxillary arch width relative to posterior arch width ( p = .011) and (b) the lowest first spectral moment for /t/ targets ( p = .001) and the lowest /t/-/k/ difference ( p = .010).
CONCLUSION
Middorsum palatal stops may occur in children with repaired CLP in response to limited anterior oral cavity space due to restricted (or collapsed) maxillary arches. First spectral moment characteristics of middorsum palatal stops are consistent with backed lingual placement during stop release.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Zajac DJ, Cevidanes L, Shah S, Haley KL

Institution

Craniofacial Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA. david_zajac@dentistry.unc.edu

Source

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR 55:6 2012 Dec pg 1876-86

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22744134