velopharyngeal closure

Velopharyngeal closure is the process where the soft palate (tongue's back part) and the walls of the throat work together to close off the nasal passages from the mouth during speech and swallowing. This allows us to produce clear speech sounds without nasal resonance and to properly swallow food and liquids. When functioning correctly, the soft palate moves upward and backward to meet the throat walls, sealing off the nose. If this closure is incomplete or easier, it can lead to speech problems like nasal sounding speech or nasal regurgitation during swallowing.