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Mental development in infants with cleft lip and/or palate
K A Kapp-Simon1, S Krueckeberg
1The Craniofacial Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. k-kapp-simon@nwu.edu
Insights
Infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) show average mental development, but scores decline with age. Early perceptual-motor delays may predict later developmental issues in children with CLP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric developmental psychology
- Craniofacial anomaly research
Background:
- Cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) affects facial structure and can impact child development.
- Understanding developmental trajectories in infants and toddlers with CLP is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mental development of infants and toddlers diagnosed with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP).
- To identify potential risk factors and developmental patterns in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of developmental scores (Mental Development Index - MDI) from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on children aged 4 to 36 months.
- Participants were categorized into four diagnostic groups: cleft lip only (CL), cleft lip and palate (CLP), cleft palate only (CP), and Pierre Robin Sequence.
Main Results:
- Mean MDI scores were within the average range but showed a significant decrease with age in both cross-sectional and longitudinal samples.
- Significant differences in MDI scores were observed among the diagnostic groups, with CL infants scoring highest and Pierre Robin Sequence infants scoring lowest.
- Early perceptual-motor development in the first year of life predicted later developmental status at age 2.
Conclusions:
- A higher-than-expected number of children with CLP may be at risk for developmental problems, particularly during their second year of life.
- Early identification of delays in perceptual-motor skills during infancy is critical for identifying children at greatest risk for developmental challenges.
Objective:
Investigated mental development in infants and toddlers with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP).
Design:
This was a retrospective analysis of developmental scores on qualified children between 4 and 36 months of age. Cross-sectional analysis included children in four age groups (6, 12, 18, and 24 months); longitudinal analysis included children at mean age 9.1 (range = 4 to 15) months at Time 1 and 24 months (range = 16 to 36) at Time 2.
Participants:
Cross-sectional analysis included 180 children (59% male participants) in four diagnostic groups (cleft lip only [CL], cleft lip and palate [CLP], cleft palate only [CP], and Pierre Robin). The longitudinal sample included 85 children (64% male children) in the same diagnostic groups.
Main Outcome Measures:
Mental Scale (MDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.
Results:
Mean MDIs were in the average range but decreased significantly between youngest and oldest groups in both cross-sectional (F(3,179) = 4.9, p<.01) and longitudinal samples (F(1,84) = 6.87, p<.01). There was a significant difference among cleft types (F(3,179) = 3.5, p<.025). Infants with CL obtained the highest scores, and infants with Pierre Robin Sequence obtained the lowest. Perceptual-motor development in the first year of life was predictive of developmental status at age 2.
Conclusions:
The number of children with CLP who may be at risk for developmental problems during the second year of life is greater than would be expected. Children at greatest risk may demonstrate early delays in acquisition of perceptual-motor skills during the first year of life.