The effects of very early palatal repair on speech

One hundred subjects were evaluated to investigate speech intelligibility at age 5 following very early palate repair. Evaluation was achieved using a visual analogue. The effect of articulation, nasal resonance and nasal escape on intelligibility, and other factors which may affect results, such as fistulae, otitis media, cleft types and age of repair, are discussed. Results show that 87 subjects had acceptable speech and 13 had unacceptable speech. Nine subjects had poor articulation, 9 had moderate to severe nasal escape and 7 had moderate to severe nasal resonance. Only 6 subjects required pharyngoplasty.