Abstract: Objective To investigate phonological characteristics and rehabilitation training approaches of bilabial consonant articulation disorders in patients after repaired cleft palate. Methods From January, 2012 to January, 2016, 51 patients with velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) and 57 patients with velopharyngeal competence (VPC) after cleft palate repaire were enrolled. Their phonological characteristics of bilabial consonants articulation disorders were analyzed. They accepted specific rehabilitation training. The correlation between bilabial consonants articulation disorders and age was analyzed. Results /b/ showed mainly weak pressure in both VPI and VPC patients, /p/ showed mainly weak pressure in VPI patients, /p/ was mainly substituted by /b/ in VPC patients. 46 cases were cured and 2 cases improved in VPI patients after 1-6 weeks of rehabilitation, and the overall cure rate was 90.20% (46/51), and was respectively 100% (13/13), 93.74% (15/16), 77.27% (17/22) in those with mild, moderate and severe disorder. 53 cases were cured and 4 cases improved in VPC patients after 1-5 weeks of rehabilitation, the overall cure rate was 92.98% (53/57), and was respectively 100% (17/17), 90.48% (19/21), 89.47% (17/19) in those with mild, moderate and severe disorder. The number of incorrect words negatively correlated with age in VPC patient (r=-1.000, P<0.001). Conclusion Bilabial consonant articulation disorders occurs mainly on /b/ and /p/ in patients repaired cleft palate, /b/ shows mainly weak pressure, /p/ shows mainly weak pressure and substitution. Specific speech rehabilitation training is significantly effective.

Key words: cleft palate, bilabial consonant, phonological characteristics, rehabilitation training