Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture
Published on: September 19, 2015
Use of special education services by children with orofacial clefts
Mahsa M Yazdy1, Andrew R Autry, Margaret A Honein
1National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Children with orofacial clefts (OFCs) are significantly more likely to use special education services, particularly speech and language support. This highlights a greater need for tailored educational resources for these children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Health
- Special Education
Background:
- Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are common birth defects with potential long-term impacts.
- Understanding the educational needs of children with OFCs is crucial for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utilization of special education services among children diagnosed with orofacial clefts (OFCs).
- To compare special education service use in children with OFCs versus those without major birth defects.
Main Methods:
- Linked birth certificates (1982-2001) to birth defects surveillance and special education records (1992-2004) in metropolitan Atlanta.
- Calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), stratifying by demographic and clinical factors.
- Assessed age of initiation and duration of special education services.
Main Results:
- Children with OFCs had a 3.2 times higher likelihood of using special education services (26% vs. 8%).
- Speech and language services were the most common need, with children with OFCs being four times more likely to receive them.
- Even excluding speech services, children with OFCs remained more likely to use special education (PR 2.4).
Conclusions:
- Children with orofacial clefts demonstrate increased use of special education services compared to peers without birth defects.
- Findings underscore the need for proactive planning and provision of educational support for children with OFCs.
Background:
Our objective was to evaluate the use of special education services by children with orofacial clefts (OFCs).
Methods:
We linked the birth certificates of children born from 1982-2001 in five counties of metropolitan Atlanta to a population-based birth defects surveillance system to identify children with OFCs, and to the special education files for the school years 1992-2004 to identify children who used special education services. The special education data contained exceptionalities and services rendered for each school year. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs were calculated. The data were stratified by race/ethnicity, maternal education, type of OFC, and the presence of associated major malformations. In addition, we assessed the age at which special education began and the amount of time spent receiving services.
Results:
Of the 777 children with OFCs, 201 (26%) were in special education at least 1 year compared with 8% of the children who had no major birth defects, yielding a PR of 3.2 (95% CI: 2.9-3.6). The most common exceptionality or service for children with an OFC was speech and language services. Compared with children with no birth defects, children with an OFC were four times more likely to be in this exceptionality (PR 3.8; 95% CI: 3.3-4.3). After excluding children in speech and language services, children with OFCs were still more likely to use special education services (PR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.2).
Conclusions:
Children with OFCs used special education services more often than children without birth defects. This information can help in planning for future population needs.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...