palatal lift


pal·a·tal lift

(pal'ă-tăl lift) A prosthetic device designed to fit against the hard palate, anchored by the teeth, with an extension along the soft palate to occlude part of the velopharyngeal opening. The device is used mainly by people with weak velopharyngeal musculature or excessively wide velopharyngeal openings, to reduce nasal resonance and airflow during speech.