Hyponasality

Children with hyponasal speech will sound like they have constant nasal congestion. This congested sound occurs even if the child is healthy.

See a doctor if your child has difficulty speaking, or sounds like they have constant nasal congestion.

Hyponasal speech is caused by a blockage in the nose or upper airway of the body. These blockages may be caused by:

• Crooked bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half (deviated septum)
• Large adenoids or tonsils
• Inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis)
• Soft, painless growths on the inside of nasal passages or sinuses (nasal polyps)
• Foreign objects
• Tumors

A doctor will first ask about a child’s health history and and any recent sickness. The doctor will then perform a physical exam to check for other problems that may be causing a child’s speech problems.

A child may be referred to a specialist called an otolaryngologist [oh-toh-lar-ing-GOL-uh-jist]. An otolaryngologist is a doctor trained in the treatment of patients with disorders of the ears, nose, and throat (ENT). The specialist may perform a simple procedure called a nasal endoscopy [en-DOS-kuh-pee]. During this test, a small flexible tube, with a camera on the end, is passed through the nose to look at the inside of the nose. The doctor can see how air travels through the nose while your child is speaking. The test also shows if there are any blockages.

Treatment depends on a child’s age and overall health. Common treatment options for hyponasal speech include:

• Removal of foreign objects in the nose (if any)
• Speech therapy
• Surgery

In most cases, hyponasal speech in children can’t be prevented.

Hyponasality [HAHY-poh-ney-ZAL-i-tee] is a speech disorder in children that occurs when there is not enough air coming from the nose and mouth. This causes a disruption in a child’s voice. Normal speech occurs when the lungs, lips, tongue, and the nostrils of the nose work together properly. The coordinated movements of these systems create the sounds to communicate. The nasal system helps to balance the sounds as air moves through the mouth and nose. This is called resonance [REZ-uh-nuhns].

Hyponasal speech is caused by a blockage in the nose or upper airway of the body. Swollen tissue, such as adenoids or tonsils, often causes these blockages. In children, hyponasal speech will sound like the child has a stuffy nose, making it hard to communicate.

Hyponasal speech is different from hypernasal speech. Hypernasal speech occurs when too much air escapes through the nose and mouth while speaking. Both of these conditions are often called resonance disorders.