An Aerodynamic and Acoustic Study of Nasalization in Cleft Palate Speakers.

구개열 언어의 비음화에 관한 공기역학 및 음향학적 연구

Cleft palate patients have general speech problems with resonance disorders and articulation disorders. The aim of this study is to find the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of the nasalization in cleft palate speakers. Thirteen control groups and three cleft palate patients pre- and post operation were selected for these studies. The test words are composed by polysyllabic words: consonants between high vowel /i/ analysis. The cleft palate patients repeated test words pre- and post-operation from one, three and six month periods. The subjects repeated test words on Macquirer and on Nasometer Model 6200-3. The aerodynamic and acoustic results of nasalization show as follows: (1) The nasal rate in overall airflow of aspirated consonant for cleft palate patients shows higher levels than that of the control group. It had decreased since one month after operation. (2) The overall airflow of cleft palate patients is higher than in the control group, however oral air pressure is lower than control group. (3) The nasal airflow and the nasal rate in overall airflow of cleft palate patients has higher than the control group, however its decreased after operation. (4) The nasalance scores of cleft palate patients were 40% higher than that of the control group. The scores did not decrease after operation. The nasalance score of lateral and fricative sounds did not decrease after operation.