Abstract: Objective　 To compare the pharyngeal closure between articulation and cheek blowing of normal adult speakers. Methods　 Comparative analysis of pharyngeal closure rates between [i] sounds and cheek blowing in 26 healthy adults using Nasopharyngeal fiberscope (NPF) was carried out. Results　 The mean value of the rate of velopharygeal incompletition during pronouciation state (RVPIp） was 4.88%, the standard deviation was 2.31%, and the mean value of the rate of velopharygeal incompletition during cheek blowing state (RVPIb） was 50.60% and the standard deviation was 16.80%. After statistical analysis, the RVPIb was higher than the RVPIp, and there was a significant difference between the two. Conclusion Under non-speech activities (taking the cheek blowing as an example), the degree of pharyngeal closure is not as good as the speech activities, suggesting that speech tools are more effective than non-speech tools in training the pharyngeal closure function.

Key words: articulation, cheek blowing, pharyngeal closure, Nasopharyngeal fiberscope , speech therapy , cleft palate