RECRUITING

Expiratory Muscle Strength Training for Hypernasal Speech in Children

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

When the soft palate does not move enough because of a cleft palate or for unknown reasons, this can lead to a speech difference called velopharyngeal insufficiency. The purpose of this research study is to test if soft palate exercises using a hand help breathing device will help improve the ability of the soft palate to close the area between the throat and nose and help improve speech.

Official Title

Expiratory Muscle Strength Training As a Non-surgical Option for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction: a Randomized-controlled Trial

Quick Facts

Study Start:2025-03
Study Completion:2026-11
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05492266

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:5 Years to 17 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:CHILD
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Pittsburgh weighted speech scores of 5 or greater
  2. * Ages 5-17 years
  1. * CAPS-A-AM hypernasality score \<2
  2. * Previous speech surgery (e.g. palatoplasty or pharyngeal flap)
  3. * Speech surgery scheduled within the next 56 days
  4. * Unable or unwilling to perform the tests and exercises outlined in the study

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Amber D Shaffer, PhD
CONTACT
412-692-6874
shafferad@upmc.edu

Principal Investigator

Noel Jabbour, MD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Pittsburgh

Study Locations (Sites)

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: Noel Jabbour

  • Noel Jabbour, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Pittsburgh

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2025-03
Study Completion Date2026-11

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2025-03
Study Completion Date2026-11

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

  • Cleft Palate
  • Speech Intelligibility

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
  • Velopharyngeal Incompetence Due to Cleft Palate
  • Inadequate Velopharyngeal Closure
  • Palatopharyngeal Incompetence
  • Hypernasality