What is VPI?
Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) is a general term. It is used to describe different disorders of the velopharyngeal valve, including velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) and velopharyngeal mislearning.. Figure 4 shows velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which is caused by an abnormality of the structures. Velopharyngeal insufficiency is common in children with a history of cleft palate or a submucous (under the skin) cleft. Velopharyngeal insufficiency can also occur after adenoidectomy, although the incidence is rare (about 1 in 2,500 cases). This is because the adenoids are right in the area of normal velopharyngeal closure. Figure 5 shows the position of the adenoid pad in the throat. Figure 6 shows velopharyngeal incompetence, which is caused by poor movement of the velopharyngeal structures. The inadequate movement of the velopharyngeal structures is usually due to a neurological disorder or injury (as in cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury).
