hypernasality

Hypernasality occurs when there is excessive nasal sound in speech because the soft palate (the part of the palate at the back of the mouth) doesn't close properly against the back of the throat, allowing air to escape through the nose. This results in a nasal quality to the voice, making words sound overly "nasal" or congested. It is often caused by conditions like cleft palate, neurological disorders, or muscular weakness that interfere with normal palate movement. Effective treatment may include speech therapy or surgery to improve palate function and normal speech resonance.