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Biomedical subjects

V L Siegel-Sadewitz

Publications and source records attributed to V L Siegel-Sadewitz.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in velopharyngeal valving with age.

Variability of velopharyngeal valving between subjects has been a well established fact since the advent of new techniques for the direct viewing of the velopharyngeal sphincter during speech. Multi-view videofluoroscopy and nasopharyngoscopy have shown that there is variable contribution to velopharyngeal closure from the velum, the lateral pharyngeal walls, and posterior pharyngeal wall from person to person. However, to date, there has been no evidence to show if velopharyngeal closure remains unchanged within individuals throughout life. The purpose of this investigation was to observe velopharyngeal closure in normal subjects and subjects with cleft palate from prepubertal to postpubertal life (i.e. pre-adenoid involution to post-adenoid involution). Changes in velopharyngeal closure patterns were observed in 60% of the normals studied and 30% of the cleft subjects.

Adenoids↗

Anomalies associated with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both.

Numerous investigators have reported on a low frequency of other anomalies in patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. The data have been somewhat inconsistent, ranging from a 3% to over 30% frequency of associated malformations. However, a recent study concluded that over half of the children with clefts at a large metropolitan center have associated anomalies. In an effort to elucidate further the genetic and morphologic characteristics of patients with clefts, 1,000 patients with clefts of the lip, palate, or both were examined and reviewed. The results indicate that associated anomalies occur in 63.4% of the sample. Approximately half of the patients with multiple anomalies have recognized syndromes, sequences, or associations, while the other half have physical examination (apparently one-of-a-kind) syndromes. The high frequency of associated anomalies has obvious implications for the genetic counseling offered to all patients at cleft palate and craniofacial centers. The frequency of associated anomalies also raises questions regarding the validity of past genetic research involving populations of subjects with clefts.

Adolescent↗

Nasopharyngoscopy of the normal velopharyngeal sphincter: an experiment of biofeedback.

In a single normal subject, nasopharyngoscopy was used as an instrument for visual biofeedback of the velopharyngeal sphincter during speech. The goal of the experiment was for the subject to alter the velopharyngeal valving pattern observed during spontaneous speech by manipulating the relative contributions of the velum and pharyngeal walls. After six sessions, each lasting twenty minutes, the subject was able to change velopharyngeal valving pattern at will during short samples of connected speech. This implies the role of learning in velopharyngeal valving and a degree of physiologic plasticity in the velopharyngeal sphincter. The procedure is felt to have possible application to a variety of conditions which have velopharyngeal insufficiency as a symptom.

Adult↗