What is one potential physical characteristic of hypernasality?

Hypernasality is primarily associated with the improper closure of the velopharyngeal (VP) port during speech, which can lead to excess airflow through the nasal cavity. This results in the characteristic sound quality of hypernasality. One crucial physical characteristic related to this speech issue is the anatomical measurement of the VP port. A more than 5mm opening of the VP port indicates that it does not fully close during speech, allowing air to escape into the nasal cavity, contributing directly to hypernasality.

The other options do not directly correlate with hypernasality. For instance, severe stuttering primarily involves disruptions in the fluency of speech rather than resonance. Excessive drooling is related to issues with oral motor control and does not specifically indicate hypernasality. A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that involves creating an opening in the trachea, which is typically not associated with resonance issues like hypernasality and can further complicate the airway rather than affect speech resonance directly. Thus, measuring the degree of opening in the VP port provides a clear connection to the presence of hypernasality.