A study of strategies for treating compensatory articulation in patients with cleft palate.

Introduction: Patients with cleft palate (PCP) frequently show compensatory articulation disorder (CAD). Compensatory errors require a prolonged period of speech intervention. Scaffolding strategies are used for correcting placement and manner of articulation.

Maxillary growth in patients with complete cleft lip and palate, operated on around 4-6 months of age.

Background: The controversy about timing of cleft palate repair has been focused on early closure for improved speech versus delayed repair for enhancing maxillary growth. Early palatal repair enhances phonological development decreasing the frequency of articulation disorders associated with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). In contrast, it has been described that early surgery adversely affects maxillary growth.