Effectiveness of a parent-implemented intervention program for young children with cleft palate

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Developmental pediatrics
• Parental education and support

Background:

• Children with cleft palate (CP) often experience speech and language delays.
• Parental involvement is crucial for early intervention effectiveness.
• Targeted strategies can improve parent-child communication dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a parent-implemented intervention for children with CP.
• To assess the intervention's impact on children's speech-language development.
• To examine changes in maternal interaction styles post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• A parent-implemented intervention program was delivered to 17 children with CP and their mothers.
• A control group of 9 children with CP and their mothers did not receive the intervention.
• Intervention involved parent training and home-based practice over 3 months, with pre- and post-intervention assessments.

Main Results:

• Children in the intervention group showed significant improvements in standardized language measures and spontaneous speech.
• Intervention group children demonstrated greater gains in expressive vocabulary, total words, and mean length of utterance.
• Mothers in the intervention group exhibited reduced word diversity, increased responsiveness, and fewer non-contingent utterances.

Conclusions:

• Parent-implemented early intervention is effective for improving speech-language outcomes in children with CP.
• The intervention positively influenced mothers' communication strategies and responsiveness.
• This approach supports enhanced child development and effective parent-child interaction.