What characterizes hypernasality in speech?

Hypernasality in speech is characterized by excessively undesirable nasal cavity resonance during non-nasal sounds. This occurs when there is a disruption in the normal airflow and sound propagation, leading to an abnormal amount of nasal resonance during the production of sounds that should primarily resonate in the oral cavity.

In typical speech, non-nasal sounds like "b," "t," and "k" are produced with airflow directed through the mouth, resulting in clear and distinct sounds. However, when hypernasality is present, individuals may overuse their nasal passages during these sounds, causing them to sound muffled or "nasal." This can be related to structural issues, such as cleft palate or functional issues, where the velopharyngeal mechanism does not close properly during speech.

This explanation highlights the specific nature of hypernasality and its impact on speech intelligibility, which is crucial for both assessment and treatment in speech-language pathology.