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Video game speech rehabilitation for velopharyngeal dysfunction: Feasibility and pilot testing

Poor control over the velopharyngeal (VP) port (connection between the oral and nasal cavities) leads to unintelligible speech; this VP dysfunction (VPD) can be due to structural abnormalities, poor motor control, or lack of appropriate feedback (hearing impairment). VP control is not aided by visual feedback since the relevant anatomy is not visible to the speaker or the listener. Here we present initial data from a novel, game-based speech rehabilitation platform designed for children with VPD, in which online feedback of speech nasalization is provided based on measurements of nasal skin vibration and speech acoustics. Twelve pediatric participants (three with VPD) completed one session with the video game and were all able to easily use the game. Over 90% of the participants reported that the game was at least “kind of fun” and that the equipment at least “kind of comfortable”. Over 90% of participants and 100% of their parents said they could use the game at home. Results are promising for further development and long-term testing in individuals with VPD.