This paper presents our progress towards a convenient and non-invasive real-time method to measure the state of the velum (raised vs. lowered) that works both during normal and silent speaking. The method emits acoustic signals with a power band from 12 to 24 kHz into a nostril and analyzes the “echo” from the nasal cavity. Here we describe two design iterations of the method, present first test results, and outline strategies for further improvements. The results indicate that the method can possibly discriminate not only the raised from the lowered velum state, but also intermediate states. Applications for the method are, for example, basic phonetic research and silent speech interfaces.