OBJECTIVE: To investigate the main methods used to evaluate velopharyngeal function in individuals with cleft lip and palate and to determine whether there is an association between the results of videonasoendoscopy and auditory-perceptual assessment. CASE REPORT: Velopharyngeal dysfunction may cause impaired verbal communication skills in individuals with cleft lip and palate. Thus, patients with this disorder need to undergo instrumental and auditory-perceptual assessments. We conducted a systematic literature review of instrumental and auditory-perceptual assessments, including an analysis of the results of both evaluation methods. We found 1300 studies on the topic of interest that were published between 1990 and 2012. Of these, 56 studies focused on velopharyngeal physiology; 29 studies presented data on velopharyngeal physiology using at least one instrumental assessment and one auditory-perceptual assessment; and 12 studies used the results of both types of assessments. Only 3 studies described in detail the analysis of both methods of velopharyngeal function evaluation; however, the association of their findings was not analyzed. CONCLUSION: We found few studies that clearly addressed the criteria that are chosen to investigate velopharyngeal dysfunction and the association between the results of videonasoendoscopy and auditory-perceptual assessment.