Laryngeal Adjustment in Producing Voiceless Plosive [k] : Videofiberscopic and Manometric Study

Abstract

We examined the role of the intrapharyngeal pressure to the laryngeal adjustment during the production of voiceless plosive [k] in the running speech. By videofiberscopy and manometory, we analyzed the relationship between the degree of the glottal opening and the intrapharyngeal pressure. In normal subjects, spindle shaped glottal opening was observed and the intrapharyngeal pressure was increased to about 4.7 cm H2O. In patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency after hemiglossectomy or pharyngeal resection, glottal openig was not observed and intrapharyngeal pressure was lower than that of normal subjects. The same result was obtained, when artificial velopharyngeal insufficiency was produced. In a tracheoesophageal shunt speaker after total laryngectomy, neoglottal opening was oserved. These results suggested that spindle shaped glottal opening during the articulation of voiceless plosive [k] in the running speech was caused passively by increased intrapharngeal pressure.