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Postoperative speech development based on cleft types in children with cleft palate.
T Nakajima1, A Mitsudome, A Yosikawa
1Speech Clinic, St. Mary's Hospital, 422 Tsubukuhonmachi, Kurumeshi, Fukuoka 830-8543, Japan. nakajima2467@st-mary-med.or.jp
Summary
Children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) experience delayed speech development, starting two-word sentences later than peers. However, speech development in isolated cleft palate (ICP) and unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) children was comparable to controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology
- Craniofacial Anomalies Research
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Speech development in children with cleft palate requires careful monitoring.
- Understanding variations in speech outcomes based on cleft type is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare speech development trajectories in children with three distinct types of cleft palate.
- To control for potential confounding factors influencing speech outcomes in this population.
Main Methods:
- A historical cohort study design was employed.
- Participants included children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), isolated cleft palate (ICP), and a control group.
- Inclusion criteria ensured adequate velopharyngeal function post-surgery and absence of significant comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Children with BCLP exhibited delayed onset of two-word sentences (3 months later) compared to other groups (P<0.01).
- BCLP children scored significantly lower on verbal subtests of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) (12.4-14.9 points lower, P<0.01).
- While females generally started two-word sentences earlier (2 months, P<0.01), no sex-based difference was found in WPPSI verbal scores.
Conclusions:
- Speech development in children with isolated cleft palate (ICP) and unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) is comparable to that of typically developing children.
- Children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) demonstrate a significant delay in speech development compared to both non-cleft peers and children with other cleft types.