The Palatal Closure Efficiency (PaCE) Index: A New Speaker-Centered Aerodynamic Metric for the Evaluation of Velopharyngeal Function During Speech.
David J Zajac, Juliana Powell, Laura Perotta
PMID 34841085WHAT IT FOUND
The PaCE index, which compares a speaker's nasal and oral pressure areas, correlates strongly with hypernasality ratings.
It may identify speech issues in children that traditional absolute area measurements miss, though it did not outperform standard methods overall.
Key findings
01PaCE index scores showed significant negative correlations with perceived hypernasality, meaning higher closure efficiency was associated with less hypernasality.
02In a subset of five speakers with borderline traditional area scores, the PaCE index revealed significantly lower closure efficiency and higher hypernasality, suggesting it may be more sensitive for younger children.
03The study authors concluded there was no clear advantage of the PaCE index or the nasal mask approach over traditional VP area estimates for the group as a whole.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study had a small sample size of 23 participants. Hypernasality was rated by graduate students rather than experienced clinical experts. The speech sample for rating was restricted to counting and a single phrase. The PaCE index can produce negative values in cases of severe dysfunction, requiring clinicians to report these as 0%.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the PaCE index is superior to traditional pressure-flow measurements for all patients. The study found no overall advantage in group correlations, and the benefit was limited to identifying discrepancies in specific individuals, particularly younger children.