Wolfgang Zemann1, Matthias Feichtinger, Gert Santler, Hans Kärcher. 1. Abteilung für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie, LKH-Universitätsklinikum Graz, Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 7, 8036, Graz, Austria. wolfgang.zemann@meduni-graz.at
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nasalance represents a measure of the relative amount of oral and nasal acoustic energy produced by a speaker. Literature shows changes in nasalance after surgery of the oropharynx. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the outcome of speech and nasalance scores after Le-Fort-I-Osteotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 20 individuals with normal speech development were examined preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively with the Nasometer 6200 (Kay-Elemetrics, USA) after bimaxillary surgery. The tone materials used comprised the standardized text passage: "Ein Kindergeburtstag", the vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ and a syllable repetition subtest. RESULTS: All patients showed changes in nasalance scores 6 weeks postoperatively. There were no significant changes reading the standard text. The syllable repetition test showed significant changes for repetition of "ma ma ma" and "na na na" (p=0,003, respectively p=0,033). Intonation of the vowel /a/1 also revealed significant changes regarding the pre- and postoperative values (p=0,006). However, the obtained values had no significant impact on the nasality characteristics of speech. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that maxillary osteotomies can result in significant changes of nasalance scores. However these changes do not have any impact on normal speech and voice.
BACKGROUND: Nasalance represents a measure of the relative amount of oral and nasal acoustic energy produced by a speaker. Literature shows changes in nasalance after surgery of the oropharynx. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the outcome of speech and nasalance scores after Le-Fort-I-Osteotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 20 individuals with normal speech development were examined preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively with the Nasometer 6200 (Kay-Elemetrics, USA) after bimaxillary surgery. The tone materials used comprised the standardized text passage: "Ein Kindergeburtstag", the vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ and a syllable repetition subtest. RESULTS: All patients showed changes in nasalance scores 6 weeks postoperatively. There were no significant changes reading the standard text. The syllable repetition test showed significant changes for repetition of "ma ma ma" and "na na na" (p=0,003, respectively p=0,033). Intonation of the vowel /a/1 also revealed significant changes regarding the pre- and postoperative values (p=0,006). However, the obtained values had no significant impact on the nasality characteristics of speech. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that maxillary osteotomies can result in significant changes of nasalance scores. However these changes do not have any impact on normal speech and voice.
Authors: K M Van Lierde; S Schepers; L Timmermans; I Verhoye; P Van Cauwenberge Journal: Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg Date: 2005-09-26 Impact factor: 2.789