The dynamics of interlip coupling in speakers with a repaired unilateral cleft-lip history.

In this paper, data are presented on individual movement characteristics of the upper and lower lip and on interlip coordination in speakers with a repaired unilateral cleft upper lip history and age-matched control participants. The data were acquired using the AG100 EMMA system while the participants produced a selection of nonspeech and speech tasks. The participants with a repaired unilateral cleft upper lip history showed reduced upper-lip movement ranges and peak velocities and a more variable spatiotemporal pattern for individual upper-lip movement cycles, in addition to a more variable interlip coupling.

Lip movement in patients with a history of unilateral cleft lip.

Objective: The influence of a repaired cleft lip on the stability of coordination between upper and lower lip in nonspeech and speech tasks was investigated.

Design: First, we looked at the effects of a secondary cleft lip repair in three individuals. Second, we compared subjects with a history of repaired unilateral cleft lip and subjects with no history of cleft lip (controls).