A fiberscopic technique for the study of velopharyngeal closures (first report).

Velopharyngeal closures using a nasopharyngeal fiberscope and were recorded by a 16mm cine camera. The resting forms of the horizontal sections of velopharyngeal cavities were grouped into three types: the "oblate elliptical type", "prolate elliptical type" and "intermediate type". The manner and finished forms of closure were grouped into three types: the "soft palate type", "lateral wall type" and "mixed type". According to the definition, 11 out of 45 subjects studies showed the "soft palate type", eight showed the "lateral wall type" and the rest were classified as the "mixed type". There seemed to be some correlations between the closure forms and resting forms. Our method is thought to have two advantages with respect to the observation of various activities and halation-free observations.