Do the reading disabilities of children with cleft fit into current models of developmental dyslexia?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the reading problems of children with cleft fit models of developmental dyslexia.


METHODS
The study compared children with nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate who had reading disability (n = 46) with those who did not have reading disability (n = 46). The children were matched for age, sex, and grade. The two groups were compared (t tests) on measures of verbal expression, phonemic awareness, and rapid naming. Also, regression analyses compared the relative relationships of these variables to reading disability.


METHODS
Children were selected from 154 patients originally screened.


RESULTS
Children with reading disability scored significantly lower on rapid naming and verbal expression, with no differences found on phonemic awareness. Rapid naming was shown to have the most significant association with reading disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate show symptoms similar to a naming-memory deficit model of developmental dyslexia. Reading treatment should avoid sight word approaches and focus on oral phonics treatment.
Richman
Lynn C
LC
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. lynn.richman@uiowa.edu
Ryan
Susan M
SM
D000849:Anomia / Q000209:etiology*; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010700:Phonetics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014705:Verbal Behavior