Classification of Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Children with Cleft Palate using Cineradiographic Images

Abstract

Cleft lip and palate is a commonly seen condition since birth. The treatment requires surgical correction in which the separated parts of lip and palate are sutured. After the surgery, the palate does not move adequately leading to a condition called velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). This leads to misarticulation, nasal emission of air during production of consonants and unclear speech. The present study evaluated four children with VPD using cineradiography technique. Different Kannada syllables uttered by these children are measured to identify the gap between soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall. MATLAB program was used to analyse the image and to estimate the gap between soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall across conditions.