VELOPHARYNGEAL DYSFUNCTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF MAJOR INSTRUMENTAL AND AUDITORY-PERCEPTUAL ASSESSMENTS.

Inroduction: The main problem in patients with velopharyngeal deficiency is the impairment of speech particularly those with cleft lip, palate , hard and soft palatal defects. Thus, such patients need to undergo both instrumental and auditory perceptual assessments. Objectives: To investigate the most appropriate methods used to evaluate velopharyngeal function in individuals with cleft lip , palate , hard and soft palate defects and to determine whether there is an association between instrumental and auditory-perceptual assessments. Methods: Electronic searching was performed in the following databases, Pubmed (2013 to 2017) and Cochrane (2013 to 2017). In addition, hand searching was performed in maxillofacial and phonetics related journals and through the references of included studies. Summary of findings: Our search of the previously mentioned scientific databases retrieved 35 manuscripts , 30 manuscripts of them remained after full text screening .Then we refined our search in accordance with the objectives of the present review, inclusion and exclusion criteria and found only 2 manuscripts .The hand searching also revealed 2 manuscripts so the included studies from our scientific search was 4 manuscripts that included explanatory description of the best diagnostic method for assessment of velopharyngeal dysfunction. Conclusion: The included manuscripts revealed a great association between the auditory perceptual assessment results and the instrumental assessment results .So the use of both assessment techniques may be necessary to ensure the reliability of results.