The Study On Evaluating The Obturator In Speech Therapy Of Cleft Palate With The Method Of Acoustic Analysis

objection: To analyze the spectrum features of cleft speech after applying the obturator and assess its value, which can provide an objective theoretical and clinic basis for speech evaluation and speech therapy. Methods: The acoustic features of formant frequency, amplitude of the vowels [a], [e], [i], [u], the extra formant, the spike of consonants and the gap of syllable of 10 healthy children (control group), 30 patients with cleft palate (presurgical group), 30 patients after operation(postsurgical group) with cleft palate and 15 patients after obturator speech therapy(obturator group) were studied by spectrography. The mean value of the first three formant frequency (Fl, F2, F3), the amplitude (An, Al of [i] )and frequency of extra formant (Fn), the frequency of consonants spike (b, g, d. z),the gap of the syllable (clvlc2v2) were analyzed. Results: (1)There was no significant difference at the F1, F2 values of [a], [e], [u] in the four groups (p>0.05),F2 of [i] and F3 of [e], [i], [u] decrease in the presurgical group compared to the control group (P<0.05) ;F2 of [i] and F3 [e], [i], [u] increases in the obturator group compared to the postsurgical group(P<0. 05). (2) Fn and An of [a] is lower in obturator group control group than that of presurgical group^ postsurgical group Al of [i] decreases in obturator group compared to the postsurgical group,, (3)There is a higher spike occurrence of [ b ] [d] [z] except [ g ] in obturator group compared to the postsurgical group(P<0. 05)and the spike occurrence in obturator group is still lower than that of control group except [ b ] (4)The frequency of Missing Gap is lower in obturator group compared to postsurgical group but still higher compared to control group(P<0.05). Conclusions: (1)The analysis of spectrum is of great help in evaluating the effect of obturator on sequence therapy of cleft palate. (2) According to the analysis of formants, extra formant of vowels, nasalised vowels decrease and the condition of Velopharyngeal competence (VPC) become well. (3) The spike of consonants and the gap of double syllables are valuable for clinicians to assess VPC and compensatory articulations.Postgraduate Wang ke(Oral and Maxilloficial Surgery)Directed by Li Ningyi...