Speech results in CLP patients operated on with a von Langenbeck palatal closure

A speech evaluation of 203 CLP patients operated on at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, during the period 1969-75 has been performed. All patients had the posterior palate closed using a modified von Langenbeck technique at an average age of 24.4 months. The speech evaluation, based on 4 clinical tests, was done at the age of 6 years by experienced speech pathologists. The results were considered good concerning articulation and nasality in 86.2% and 80.5%, respectively. Among the 36 patients with moderate or severe nasality, 28 had a pharyngoplasty performed. The final speech results were considered good in 97.3% of the whole sample.