Nasality

A sharp weakening of sonority and a change in voice timbre, combined with distortion of speech sounds, due to a violation of the participation of the nasal cavity in the processes of voice formation and articulation. Nasality occurs in diseases of the nose and nasopharynx, accompanied by impaired nasal breathing: polyps, deviated nasal septum, enlarged turbinates, adenoid growths, etc.

In this case, the voice becomes dull, the nasal sounds “m” and “n” are distorted - they are pronounced as “b” and “d” (the so-called closed nasality). The cause of nasal sound may also be dysfunction of the soft palate as a result of paralysis, congenital cleft and injury of the hard and soft palate, as well as diphtheria damage to the nasopharynx. In these cases, the velum palatine, when pronouncing a number of sounds, does not adjoin the posterior wall of the pharynx and does not separate the oropharynx from the nasopharynx. Thus, air passes not only through the mouth, but also through the nose (the so-called open nasality). This type of nasal tone is usually pronounced and speech is slurred.

In almost all cases, nasality can be eliminated if you consult a doctor in a timely manner. When a child develops a nasal tone, speech therapy exercises are sometimes sufficient. For a number of diseases, for example, nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, adenoids, surgical treatment is necessary. Non-closure of the soft and hard palate is corrected using plastic surgery.