New Resources on Cleft and Craniofacial Conditions

There’s a good chance you’ve worked with people with cleft lip and/or palate or other craniofacial conditions. In hospitals, clinics, and schools, ASHA members play a critical role in helping these individuals communicate.

In recognition of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month (NCCAPM), we’re highlighting new and trending resources! Read on for new ideas and research on working with infants, children, and adults with cleft and craniofacial conditions.

Phonetics and Speech in Cleft Lip and Palate

Changes in Phonological Awareness Following Combined Phonetic–Phonological Intervention in Children With Cleft Palate: Studies have shown that atypical speech sound production may be linked with lower phonological awareness. Phonological training can be included in speech services for children with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L) to target articulatory and cognitive–linguistic tasks.

Speech Therapy in an Adult With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Clinical Case Study: Speech therapy is frequently studied in children, but its effectiveness in adults with repaired cleft lip and palate (CLP) is unclear. Authors showed that a motor-phonetic approach could address speech sound disorders in adults with repaired CLP.

Treating Non-Oral Compensatory Misarticulations in Children With a Cleft Palate: A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Combined Phonetic–Phonological Intervention: This article compared motor–phonetic treatment to a combined phonetic–phonological intervention in children with CP ± L. The combined intervention strategy promoted broader skill generalization, resulting in lasting changes in speech intelligibility.

Feeding, Parent-Led Interventions, and Training

Examining Milk-Thickening Practices for Infants With Cleft Palate: A Scoping Review: Thickening milk can address aspiration and reflux in infants, but it can complicate feeding with children who require cleft-adapted feeding methods. A review showed that there is little research on milk thickening practices in this population.

Development and Preliminary Outcomes of a Parent-Led Intervention for Malaysian School-Age Children With Cleft Lip and/or Palate: Children with cleft lip and/or palate face psychosocial and communication challenges that may adversely affect peer relationships and their emotional well-being. A structured, parent-led approach may help foster emotional resilience and confidence in these adolescents.

Effectiveness of a 2-Day Speech Camp on Speech Therapists’ Knowledge for Assessing and Treating Children With Cleft Palate: ASHA’s speech-language pathologists play a crucial role on the craniofacial care team, but they may not receive dedicated coursework on cleft and craniofacial conditions. A 2-day speech therapy camp enhanced SLPs’ knowledge of assessment and interventionstrategies when supporting this population.

More Resources From ASHA Journals

Cleft and craniofacial conditions vary widely, and people with these conditions require different levels of support. You can use our advanced search feature to find additional articles on cleft and craniofacial issues that are relevant to your work.

To learn how you can get involved during Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, check out the NCCAPM web site! This month, we celebrate your commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based care for individuals with cleft and craniofacial disorders.