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Phonological development in children with cleft lip and palate
1School of Speech Pathology, Leicester Polytechnic, Scraptoft Campus, Leicester LE7 9SU, UK.
Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics
|April 7, 2011
Summary
This study tracks phonological development in children with repaired cleft lip and palate (CLP), comparing their speech patterns before and after surgery to understand the condition's impact on language acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Genetics and Developmental Biology
Background:
- Children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) often experience speech sound disorders.
- Early surgical intervention aims to improve speech outcomes, but the precise impact on phonological development requires longitudinal study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally investigate the phonological development of children with repaired cleft lip and palate (CLP) from infancy to early childhood.
- To determine how the cleft palate condition influences the nature and timing of phonological development.
- To compare the speech patterns of CLP children with normative data.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data collection of vocalizations and speech from children with CLP at frequent intervals (0;10 to 3;6).
- Recordings conducted pre-surgery (0;10) and post-surgery (six weeks onwards, then ~6-monthly intervals).
- Analysis of phonetic repertoires and pronunciation patterns, comparing pre- and post-operative data with normative data.
Main Results:
- Preliminary findings from two children show detailed phonetic repertoire profiles pre- and post-surgery.
- Comparison of phonetic and phonological characteristics at 2;6 and 3;6 against expected developmental norms.
- Analysis of speech characteristics in relation to pre-speech repertoires.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the effects of surgical palate repair on phonological development in children with CLP.
- Findings will contribute to understanding whether structural abnormalities associated with CLP inhibit or disturb phonological system development.
- This research highlights the importance of detailed longitudinal assessment for children with CLP.
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