Abstract: Objective　To compare the difference in velopharyngeal closure between articulation and air blowing by typical Mandarin speaker. Methods The rising height of velopharyngeal closure and soft palate elevations during the articulation of /i:/ and air blowing was measured using the lateral cephalogram of 12 female adult speakers. Results The average velopharyngeal closure rate of all subjects was 62.95% during air blowing. The standard deviation was 4.89. The mean velopharyngeal closure rate was 75.03% during air blowing, while the standard deviation was 5.34 for all subjects. There was a significant difference between the two states. The soft palate elevation was 0.5833 cm and the standard deviation was 0.2340 during air blowing. The average soft elevation during articulation was 1.3259 cm and the standard deviation was 0.563. There was a significant difference between the two. Conclusion Blowing training may facilitate the rehabilitation of the velopharyngeal function to some extent. However, both the velopharyngeal closure rate and the soft palatal elevation are significantly smaller during air blowing than that of articulation, which can’t completely achieve the closure state of the articulation of normal people The efficiency of air blowing improving velopharyngeal closure needs further investigation.

Key words: articulation, velopharyngeal competence, cephalogram