Hyponasality is a resonance issue where too little sound passes through the nasal cavity during speech, causing the voice to lack normal nasal resonance. In hyponasal speech, sounds like /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/ (which normally resonate in the nose) are reduced or sound “stuffy” and may be mistaken for other sounds (for example, “mom” might sound like “bob”). This condition typically results from a blockage or obstruction in the nasopharynx or nasal passages – such as swollen adenoids, nasal congestion, polyps, or structural abnormalities – preventing air from flowing into the nose. For SLPs, identifying hyponasality is important because it often warrants medical referral (to address the blockage) in addition to speech therapy; resolving the cause of hyponasality and retraining normal nasal resonance can greatly improve the clarity and naturalness of a person’s speech.
“The Correlation Between Perceptual Ratings and Nasalance Scores in Speech Disorders.” Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research 65, no. 6 (2022). Link
Kummer, Ann W. Speech and Resonance Disorders Due to Velopharyngeal Dysfunction: Assessment and Intervention. Cincinnati, OH: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 2011.
