Failure of the SOFT PALATE to reach the posterior pharyngeal wall to close the opening between the oral and nasal cavities. Incomplete velopharyngeal closure is primarily related to surgeries (ADENOIDECTOMY; CLEFT PALATE) or an incompetent PALATOPHARYNGEAL SPHINCTER. It is characterized by hypernasal speech.
Also Known As:
Inadequate Velopharyngeal Closure; Velopharyngeal Incompetence; Incompetence, Palatopharyngeal; Incompetence, Velopharyngeal; Insufficiency, Velopharyngeal; Velopharyngeal Closures, Inadequate; Palatopharyngeal Incompetence