Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Clinic | Our Services

• An in-depth speech and resonance evaluation performed by our speech-language pathologist. This will focus specifically on speech clarity, resonance, and articulation.
• A general ENT examination and a detailed endoscopic evaluation of palate movement and closure, conducted in collaboration with our plastic surgeon.

After your child is evaluated, our specialists will review their findings and collaborate to determine the best course of treatment.

Speech therapy

Speech therapy for velopharyngeal dysfunction involves targeted exercises and personalized techniques designed to improve your child's resonance and articulation, with the goal of enhancing speech clarity and overall communication abilities.

With appropriate and timely treatment, many children experience substantial improvements in speech intelligibility and resonance, greatly enhancing their quality of life.

Surgical care

For some children with velopharyngeal dysfunction, surgery is the most effective way to improve palate movement and achieve normal resonance. At the Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Clinic, surgical care is never one-size-fits-all — each recommendation is based on your child’s unique anatomical findings, speech patterns, and overall health.

A key part of our evaluation process is the group endoscopic exam, in which our speech-language pathologist and surgeons work side by side. During this exam, the speech-language pathologist prompts your child to produce specific speech sounds that best reveal how their palate and surrounding structures move. These prompts are tailored to your child’s individual speech needs — for example, a certain sound may highlight palate closure more accurately than others, even if it’s not a sound they typically struggle with.

By combining direct visualization with expert speech assessment, we can:

• Pinpoint exactly where and how palate movement is limited
• Differentiate between structural and functional causes of speech issues
• Select the most effective surgical approach for lasting improvement in speech clarity and resonance

Our surgical team offers a range of procedures to correct velopharyngeal dysfunction. Each plan is developed collaboratively by our otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons, and speech-language pathologists to ensure the best possible functional outcomes.