Nasal speech broadly refers to a person’s voice sounding like it has too much or too little air in the nose.
What are resonance and airflow control?
Resonance refers to the enhancement of sound energy by a cavity or chamber. Why does this matter for nasal speech? Because when we make speech sounds like vowels, the movement of our vocal folds creates sound waves. That energy moves through our speech tract and out of our mouth to reach the ears of listeners.
What is normal resonance and airflow control for speech?
While the individual differences in the shape of our mouths and throats can create unique vocal resonance characteristics for us as speakers, there are a few general rules about resonance that are true for English speakers.
What types of nasal speech problems can occur?
Now that we know what type of resonance different sounds should have, we can understand what types of problems we can have with resonance, or what types of nasal speech can occur.
What causes these types of nasal speech?
Velopharyngeal dysfunction causes hypernasal and hyponasal resonance. When hypernasality exists, it means that the muscle at the back of the roof of the mouth isn’t making contact with the pharynx to seal the nose from the mouth when it should.
Structural problems causing velopharyngeal dysfunction
A few different types of structural problems can create velopharyngeal dysfunction that results in problems with nasal speech.
Neurological problems causing nasal speech
Nasal speech can also result from problems with controlling the muscles of the soft palate and walls of the throat with coordinated movement for speech.
Mislearning and nasal speech
Occasionally, speakers may develop nasal speech as a result of mislearning the direction of airflow release when making certain sounds.
Improving Nasal Speech
The treatment plan to improve nasal speech depends on the underlying cause of the problem.
Conclusion
For structural causes, most often the solution will include surgery or management with an oral appliance. Treatment for neurological causes of nasal speech varies based on the presentation.