BACKGROUND: Several anatomical and functional changes are observed in individuals with cleft lip and palate, including structural abnormalities of the oropharyngeal muscles, which can cause loss of velopharyngeal function and other functions such as sucking, swallowing, and speaking. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of weak intraoral air pressure in the speech of individuals with cleft palate who underwent primary palatoplasty at the appropriate time or at a late stage and assess whether surgical timing may lead to a higher occurrence of the disorder. We hypothesized that individuals who undergo belated primary palatoplasty show a higher occurrence of weak intraoral air pressure compared to those who undergo primary palatoplasty at the appropriate time. METHODS: This study included 37 patients of both sexes with a diagnosis of cleft palate, with or without cleft lip, who were divided into 2 groups: 1) early group (GP), consisting of 22 patients who underwent primary palatoplasty during the second year of life, and 2) the late group (GT), comprising 15 patients who underwent primary palatoplasty at a later stage, after acquiring speech sounds. All participants underwent routine clinical assessment with an interval of at least 3 months after surgery. Among the parameters evaluated, weak intraoral air pressure was an important variable considered in this study. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed a higher frequency of weak intraoral air pressure in the GT group (33%) as compared to the GP group (18%). However, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: The study hypothesis was rejected. The presence of weak intraoral air pressure was observed in the speech of both groups, and the study findings showed that the timing at which primary palatoplasty was performed is not an influencing factor.
Cleft palate; Velopharyngeal insufficiency; Speech
