Velopharyngeal Inadequacy - Terminology

Terminology

Different terms can be used to describe this phenomenon in addition to “velopharyngeal inadequacy”. These terms and definitions are as follows:

• Velopharyngeal insufficiency: The inability of the velopharyngeal sphincter to sufficiently separate the nasal cavity from the oral cavity during speech.

• Velopharyngeal incompetency: When the soft palate and the lateral/posterior pharyngeal walls fail to separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity during speech.

Although the definitions are similar, the etiologies correlated with each term differ slightly; however, in the field of medical professionals these terms are typically used interchangeably. Velopharyngeal inadequacy is the generic term most often used to describe the functionality of the velopharyngeal valve.