Velopharyngeal Insufficiency After Maxillomandibular Advancement Osteotomy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients

This study will be conducted at Amsterdam UMC. Adult patients with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) who are eligible for maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery will be invited to participate in this prospective cohort study. Patients will be evaluated by two speech therapists at four different time points: before surgery (T0), 6 weeks after surgery (T1), 3 months after surgery (T2), 6 months after surgery (T3) and 1 year after surgery (T4).

Patients will undergo objective assessments focusing on three components: nasality, speech, and swallowing. The Nasometer, a non-invasive analysis tool, will be used to measure the presence of nasality in speech production. Speech will be scored using the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech - Augmented (CAPS-A), an instrument where speech therapists evaluate various aspects of speech performance. Swallowing will be assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), a scoring system that evaluates patients' swallowing abilities. Additionally, the swallowing speed/volume test will measure how quickly and how much water a patient can swallow. Thereby, for the subjective evaluation patients will receive the following questionnaires by email: OHIP-14 (oral health related quality of life), FOSQ (functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire), and the NSD (neurosensory disturbance questionnaire.