What are primary speech production problems for children with cleft palate?

Children with cleft palate often experience primary speech production problems related to the structural differences in their oral and nasal cavities. Hypernasality is a common issue because the cleft can prevent proper closure of the velopharyngeal port, allowing excessive airflow through the nasal cavity during speech. This results in a nasal quality in the voice, which is particularly noticeable when producing certain sounds that require a proper oral resonance.

Additionally, nasal air emissions occur when air escapes through the nose instead of being directed out of the mouth during speech production. This can cause difficulty in articulating certain consonants, particularly plosives and fricatives, leading to speech that can be difficult to understand.

Both hypernasality and nasal air emissions are directly linked to the anatomical challenges posed by a cleft palate, making these issues the primary concerns for speech production in these children. The other options do not reflect the most significant or prevalent problems associated with cleft palate speech issues.