The restoration of voice function after cleft palate surgery also requires voice training (speech therapy) Briefly described as follows: Voice training can be started one month after discharge from the hospital: Step 1:Enhance the function of palatopharyngeal closure.
1. Massage. Instruct the patient to massage the palate with the thumb, in the direction of front to back.
2.Make dry vomiting, yawning and high voice “ah” sound.
3.Make the lips, tongue and jaw open, close, gyrate and swing.
4.Increase the air pressure in the mouth. Practice method is: the patient is asked to inhale deeply, tightly closed lips, the air slowly inhaled into the mouth, so that the oral cavity full of air, in the oral cavity air pressure increased to the maximum, and then open the lips, force the airflow ejected. In the palatopharyngeal closure has not been fully established, the airflow in the mouth often partly escape into the nasal cavity, the nostrils leak out. Sometimes you can pinch the nostrils with your fingers, and then practice this action; after the practice takes effect, then gradually release the fingers to practice independently.
The second step: to enhance the function of restrained exhalation. Let the child practice blowing candles, balloons, balls, harmonica, flute and other musical instruments, and train the child to breathe out continuously and in a controlled manner.
The third step: vowel and consonant training. In the child has been able to regulate their exhalation action, you can begin to practice the basic elements of speech. This step is the most difficult, but also the most important, step by step, do not be impatient.
Step 4: Learn single-letter pinyin. After the patient has mastered the pronunciation of the phonetic alphabet, he/she can start to learn the phonetics of common single words.
Step 5: Try to read sentences and talk. Each word in the sentence should be strictly from the pinyin requirements, to make sure that the pronunciation is clear and not confused with each other. In the beginning, we should be slow, when pronunciation and speech are clear and correct, then gradually speed up. Patients who can read and write can practice singing, reciting poems, reading aloud, reading newspapers, and then practice talking. After the patients are discharged from the hospital, they will return to the hospital at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year to check whether the development of the maxillofacial and oral cavity is normal, and the specialist will analyze and evaluate the rehabilitation of the patients’ language function, find out the problems in the training of the patients and give timely correction guidance.