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Published on: November 6, 2014
Cognitive functioning and clinical characteristics of children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts: A case-control
Kinga Amália Sándor-Bajusz1, Tímea Dergez2, Edit Molnár1
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School and Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
Insights
Children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts may face risks in attention and cognitive development, but also show strengths. Early interventions can positively impact their cognitive performance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurodevelopment
- Craniofacial Anomalies
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Non-syndromic orofacial clefts are associated with higher rates of neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Identifying at-risk children for abnormal neurodevelopment is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts at risk for abnormal neurodevelopment.
- To assess developmental history and cognitive functioning in these children.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, case-controlled study involving 40 children with non-syndromic oral clefts and 44 controls.
- Utilized questionnaires for retrospective clinical data and psychometric tools (IQ, executive functioning).
Main Results:
- The cleft group had lower Apgar scores and delays in potty-training and speech development.
- Children with clefts scored lower on the Continuous Performance Test, indicating attention deficits.
- Higher socio-economic status and early speech interventions correlated with better cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts are at risk for attention deficits and challenges in cognitive and speech development.
- Despite risks, these children demonstrate significant skill development and cognitive strengths.
- Longitudinal studies with larger samples are recommended to confirm findings on neurodevelopmental difficulties.
Introduction:
The higher rate of neuropsychiatric disorders in individuals with non-syndromic orofacial clefts has been well documented by previous studies. Our goal was to identify children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts that are at risk for abnormal neurodevelopment by assessing their developmental history and present cognitive functioning.
Materials And Methods:
A single-center, case-controlled study was carried out at the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Pécs in Hungary. The study consisted of three phases including questionnaires to collect retrospective clinical data and psychometric tools to assess IQ and executive functioning.
Results:
Forty children with non-syndromic oral clefts and 44 age-matched controls participated in the study. Apgar score at 5 min was lower for the cleft group, in addition to delays observed for potty-training and speech development. Psychiatric disorders were more common in the cleft group (15%) than in controls (4.5%), although not statistically significant with small effect size. The cleft group scored lower on the Continuous Performance Test. Subgroup analysis revealed significant associations between higher parental socio-economic status, academic, and cognitive performance in children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts. Analyzes additionally revealed significant associations between early speech and language interventions and higher scores on the Verbal Comprehension Index of the WISC-IV in these children.
Discussion:
Children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts seem to be at risk for deficits involving the attention domain of the executive system. These children additionally present with difficulties that affect cognitive and speech development. Children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts show significant skill development and present with similar cognitive strengths as their peers. Longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to provide more conclusive evidence on cognitive deficits in children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts at risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties.
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