Cleft Palate Craniofac J
October 2020
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine experiences and practices related to supporting literacy development and preventing reading difficulties in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).
Methods: Via online surveys, 67 respondents including 35 parents/guardians of children with CL/P and 32 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) answered questions about home literacy practices, clinical practices, and perceptions of SLPs' role in literacy.
Results: The variability in responses highlights both the positive contributions of parents/guardians and SLPs in supporting literacy development and preventing reading disabilities in children with cleft and the need for increased education and efforts to meet their literacy needs.