Appointments

Your consultant speech surgeon or specialist speech therapist has referred you for nasal obturators because your speech is affected by too much air escaping through your nose. This happens because of a condition called velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). 

Your first appointment

You will be referred to a maxillofacial prosthetist who will discuss the process of having nasal obturators. They will also talk to you about your medical history, and ask for your consent.

Further appointments

It will take 3 to 5 appointments to make your nasal obturators.

Making the moulds

At your second appointment, the prosthetist will make moulds of the inside of your nostrils using a rubber material. These moulds will be used to make your nasal obturators.

The moulds will only be of the nostril opening and do not extend up into the nasal cavity beyond your nostrils.

Sometimes another stage is needed, to try wax versions of the nasal obturators in your nose, to check that they fit properly.

Fitting nasal obturators

Your nasal obturators will then be fitted by the prosthetist, who will check the fit and comfort.

A specialist speech therapist will also come to this appointment to check any changes to your speech.

You will practice how to insert and remove your nasal obturators, and be told how to look after them.

Follow-up appointments

You will have regular follow-up appointments with your maxillofacial prosthetist for as long as you continue to use your obturators. This is to monitor your progress, highlight any concerns and decide when they need replacing.
 
You might also have follow-up appointments with your speech therapist to assess your progress.