Comparison of the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Effects on Life Outcomes-Parent Version with Perceptual and...

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine the association between quality of life (QOL) as measured by the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Effects on Life Outcomes-Parent Version (VELO-P), the intelligibility in context scale (ICS), percent consonants correct (PCC), nasalance scores, and ratings from the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech-Augmented- Americleft Modification (CAPS-A-AM).DesignCross-sectional design.SettingOutpatient pediatric cleft-craniofacial clinic.Participants30 children, <8 years of age, diagnosed with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L) and their parents.Main Outcome MeasureThe VELO-P was administered to 30 parents of children with CP ± L as part of their child's annual cleft team evaluation. The VELO-P was then correlated with the ICS, CAPS-A-AM ratings, PCC, and nasalance scores. Ratings were completed by 3 speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Reliability was completed by 2 SLPs. Linear regression identified predictors of the Emotional Impact domain of the VELO-P.ResultsThe ICS had a strong correlation with the VELO-P total score (r_s = 0.72, P < .001). As SLP ratings of speech acceptability decreased, there was an increase in the perceived QOL. The speech acceptability rating had a significant moderate correlation with the VELO-P total score (r_s = -0.48, P = .01), Speech Limitations domain (r_s = -0.46, P = .01), emotional impact (r_s = -0.41, P = .03), and the Caregiver Impact domain (r_s = -0.40, P = .04).ConclusionThe correlations between VELO-P and ICS offer insight into how speech intelligibility impacts QOL, while the CAPS-A-AM ratings offer insight into the relationship between parent and SLP perceptions of speech. Future studies should expand samples and age ranges to further examine these correlations.