A great place to start Disorder information source Rated and Reviewed Sleep Links Entrance to all monitored Sleep Forums Search all of Sleepnet.com


Non-CPAP Forum 21
Archived Posting


Archived Non-CPAP Forum 21 viewing only. To post go to the Apnea Forum Homepage.

Re: Speech wonderings/worries

Posted by Gremlin on August 09, 2007 at 23:59:08:

In Reply to: Re: Speech wonderings/worries posted by sleepy-in-seattle on August 03, 2007 at 18:48:41:

It is me, Gremlin who had speech ruined. Please see my posts from a few years back as it would be difficult to rehash it all. Im still languishing in wait for my 2nd MMA and palatal rebuild....dont know if I trust it to work, and Blue Cross/Double Cross wont commit to how much they will pay the out of network surgeon who can do a surgery on me.
Anyway, I dont think you need to worry alot. But make sure your palate is normal. You see, I had a very nice voice pre mma. But It was discovered that I have an occult submucous cleft palate. It never was any issue as my voice was perfect. My surgeon team basically saw the palate after the bone saws had been running, and just put my teeth back in at a bizarre angle. That is why my airway is still the same size and my tongue now abuts my front teeth making a lisp . Something that I consciously avoid when I do attempt to talk. In fact, if it were not for the incompetent pharyngeal flap that causes my hypernasal speech, I would be upset at my speech from a word forming standpoint, as it feels like my mouth is full of too many teeth. A feeling I never had preop. Also my resonance is gone, unless you like the sound of early Jerry Lewis characters. Its been the mosts humiliating thing Ive ever had happen and it never goes away. I speak in a "compensatory voice" that is very horse and low to cover the nasality. But remember, my surgeons panicked and put my teeth back in and no one knows why my tongue now buts against my front teeth. Your palate can be palpated (touched) to determine if it is narrow in the middle. It took 4 years of being lied to by 4 other various dr's for me to find this out. You see, they all stick together and this would have been a smoking gun for a lawsuit. One told me of a "unique bony shape to my palate" stopping short of telling what it really was. Only after seeing dr W at Baylor was I told . 5 seconds of feeling it and he knew. Also be aware that I had UPPP (way before the 2001 mma) that also helped fade some palate away..altho it did not affect voice at all, or help apnea. One speech therapist I saw along the way said she had heard of mma causing voice problems like mine. She was very secretive of details. That leaves me and all of us in the dark as to how often MMA causes incompetent pharyngeal action. (also be aware my swallowing is affected too-I have to really work at closing off the liquids now). Lawyers/stupid jurers have ruined dr's integrity. So it may be impossible to ever know how many bad results there are. Good luck. And again, if you dont do anything, make sure your palate is normal.

Follow Ups:


Archived Non-CPAP Forum21 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Apnea Forum Homepage

  • IMPORTANT : Information not intended as medical advice. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional. Read Terms of Use. The Sleep Forums are not to be used for commercial purposes. Commercial products and services are not endorsed by Sleepnet.com.
  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


Copyright ©1995-2007 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved