Nasal regurgitation is the involuntary escape of food or liquid into the nasal cavity during swallowing, often resulting in material exiting through the nose. This occurs when the velopharyngeal valve fails to close properly, which is common in individuals with cleft palate, palatal insufficiency, or neuromuscular disorders affecting the soft palate. It can lead to discomfort, coughing, choking, and nasal irritation, and it often co-occurs with speech problems such as hypernasality. Management typically involves addressing the structural or functional deficit through surgical repair, prosthetic support, or therapy targeting both feeding and speech outcomes.
Abhay Agarwal, Vivek Rana, and Shabina Shafi, “A Feeding Appliance for a Newborn Baby with Cleft Lip and Palate,” National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery 1, no. 1 (2010).
Ann W. Kummer, Cleft Palate & Craniofacial Anomalies: Effects on Speech and Resonance, 4th ed. (Clifton Park, NY: Cengage, 2020).
