Will not respond to surgery or prosthetic management. Requires speech therapy. They improve understanding of voice and resonance disorders through direct visualization. The mechanisms of velum and larynx are not visible from an oral exam but can be observed through endoscopy, radiography or fluoroscopy. Our ears may detect gross disturbance but cannot reliably discern subtleties of speech production.
Instrumentation is able to define the subtleties of speech.
Instrumentation yields quantifiable, reproducible results. Pre and post measures make outcomes easier to evaluate. Computers can measure several speech qualities simultaneously, e.g., pressure flow, voice and resonance measures can be measured together. Allows us to view the structures and functions of the speech mechanism that are not visible during oral exam. Natural speech can be observed.