Bilateral Buccal Flap Revision Palatoplasty to Correct Velopharyngeal Dysfunction: Perceptual Speech, Acoustic, and Aerodynamic Outcomes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze perceptual, acoustic, and aerodynamic changes in speech and velopharyngeal function after bilateral buccal flap revision palatoplasty (BBFRP) in patients with repaired cleft palate.

Methods: Ten consecutive patients ages 4 to 18 years with velopharyngeal dysfunction treated with BBFRP by a single surgeon were evaluated. Using a visual analog scale, nine blinded speech-language pathologists independently rated hypernasality, hyponasality, audible nasal emission, and speech acceptability.

Emergence of Prevocalic Stop Consonants in Children With Repaired Cleft Palate.

Purpose This study determined the time course of the emergence of prevocalic stop consonants in young children with cleft palate following surgical repair. Method A total of 120 children in four cohorts from three institutions were followed from 12 to 24 months of age: (a) 24 with repaired cleft lip and palate (CLP), (b) 36 with repaired cleft palate only (CP), (c) 33 without clefts but with histories of frequent otitis media and ventilation tubes (OM), and (d) 27 typically developing (TD) children without clefts or OM. Emergence of prevocalic stops and symbolic language skills were determined during administration of the Communication and Symbolic Behavioral Scales Developmental Profile.

The Use of Nonspeech Oral Motor Exercises in the Treatment of Children With Cleft Palate: A Re-Examination of Available Evidence.

Purpose The purpose of this tutorial is to re-examine the current literature on nonspeech oral motor exercise (NSOME) in general and its use in the treatment of children with cleft palate specifically and provide a best practice recommendation. Method The process was used to investigate the clinical question. This systematic framework identifies the clinical population, evaluates the intervention(s) applied to the population, assesses the results of interventions, and delineates the outcome.

Lexical Selectivity of 2-Year-Old Children With and Without Repaired Cleft Palate Based on Parent Report.

Objective: To determine vocabulary and lexical selectivity characteristics of children with and without repaired cleft palate at 24 months of age, based on parent report.

Participants: Forty-nine children with repaired cleft palate, with or without cleft lip (CP±L; 25 males; 21 cleft lip and palate, 28 CP only), 29 children with a history of otitis media (OM) and ventilation tubes (21 males), and 25 typically developing (TD) children (13 males).

Main Outcome Measure(s): Parent-reported expressive vocabulary was determined using the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: Words and Sentences.

Velopharyngeal Status of Stop Consonants and Vowels Produced by Young Children With and Without Repaired Cleft Palate at 12, 14, and 18 Months of Age: A Preliminary Analysis.

Purpose: The objective was to determine velopharyngeal (VP) status of stop consonants and vowels produced by young children with repaired cleft palate (CP) and typically developing (TD) children from 12 to 18 months of age.

Method: Nasal ram pressure (NRP) was monitored in 9 children (5 boys, 4 girls) with repaired CP with or without cleft lip and 9 TD children (5 boys, 4 girls) at 12, 14, and 18 months of age. VP status was categorized as open or closed for oral stops and vowels in three contexts-consonant-vowel syllables, vowel-consonant-vowel syllables, and isolated vowels-on the basis of the presence or absence of positive nasal ram pressure.

A study of speech, language, hearing, and dentition in children with cleft lip only.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of speech, language, hearing, and dental problems in children with an initial diagnosis of isolated cleft lip only (CL), for which evidence-based practice can be developed.

Design: Retrospective chart review of 95 patients with cleft lip (age range, 2.8 to 3.

Academic and clinical training in cleft palate for speech-language pathologists.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to obtain information about academic and clinical training of speech-language pathology students in cleft palate (CP).

Methods: Representatives of 232 accredited graduate programs in speech-language pathology were invited via e-mail to complete a web-based 32-item questionnaire. Questions focused on the type and nature of courses offered related to CP, availability of clinical practica, and number of hours of clinical experience by students.