Speech surgery is performed for patients who have Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI). In patients with VPI, too much air escapes from the nose during speech. This is typically evaluated with a speech nasal endoscopy, performed with a Pediatric Otolaryngologist and a Speech Pathologist. The first line of treatment is speech therapy, but if the patient has persistent problems, they may be a candidate for speech surgery.
There are several different options for speech surgery, including posterior pharyngeal wall augmentation, dynamic sphincter pharyngoplasty, palatal lengthening, and pharyngeal flap. Talk to your surgeon about what procedure may benefit your child.
You can find more information on the Cleft Palate Foundation website or in this PDF document.
