What term is used for nasal quality that occurs even when the structure is intact but the muscle isn't working properly?

The term that refers to a nasal quality that occurs even when the anatomical structures are intact but the muscle function is impaired is velopharyngeal incompetence. This condition typically arises when the muscles that control the velopharyngeal mechanism do not function properly, leading to inadequate closure of the velopharyngeal port during speech. As a result, air escapes into the nasal cavity, causing a hypernasal speech quality.

In contrast, velopharyngeal insufficiency typically implies that there is an anatomical deficiency, such as a structural abnormality that prevents proper closure of the velopharyngeal port. Velopharyngeal inadequacy is a more general term that may refer to any failure to achieve adequate closure, and it doesn't specify whether it's due to muscular dysfunction or structural issues. Lastly, velopharyngeal mislearning pertains to speech patterns that develop in response to inadequate velopharyngeal closure but doesn't directly address the underlying muscular function. Therefore, velopharyngeal incompetence is the most accurate term for describing this specific scenario of muscular dysfunction.