What is the expected vocal quality when there is a hole in the palate?

The presence of a hole in the palate, known as a cleft palate, affects how air and sound are produced during speech. When there is a defect in the palate, airflow can escape through the nose rather than being directed solely through the mouth. This results in a nasal quality to the voice, which is commonly described as a nasally voice.

In a typical vocal production scenario, the palate serves to separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, allowing for clear articulation. When this separation is compromised by a hole, the resonance characteristics change, leading to the perception of increased nasal resonance and decreased oral resonance in speech. Therefore, the expected vocal quality associated with a hole in the palate is characterized by the nasality resulting from this altered airflow and resonance pattern.