Speech and Language Considerations

• Early Infancy - First Year

  • Language expansion will continue as normal.

  • Babbling sounds may be impacted (E.g. the type of sounds babbled, as well as timing).

  • A hearing follow-up is crucial (to monitor the higher risk of hearing problems and address any underlying issues via an early detection).

• Early Childhood

  • The number 1 priority in the early childhood years is speech and language development since both the cleft lip and palate have been repaired, significant progress towards speech development may be made.

  • Children with cleft palate may need speech therapy in order to address various possible compensatory errors.

  • Additionally, compensatory errors can be mitigated by speech therapy, whereas obligatory errors, distortions caused by structural abnormalities, cannot be treated by speech therapy. Unfortunately, obligatory errors may require additional orthodontic as well as surgical treatment.

• Adolescence and Teenage Years

  • Speech and resonance changes may occur after later surgeries throughout young adulthood. In this time period, many surgeries may be of benefit as a result of cleft issues, such as maxillary advancement surgery, which involves moving the upper jaw forward. Such a surgery addresses breathing difficulties, facial deformities, an underbite, and even nasal obstruction. Additional surgeries which could have many benefits are a primary rhinoplasty to improve a patients breathing and is a surgical procedure designed to reshape or resize the nose. Lastly, another surgery that appeals to many teenagers is bone grafting in the face, which for patients with a cleft may address facial deformities and helps improve the physical appearance of the face.