[Tactile-kinesthetic responsiveness in children with cleft lip palate].
BACKGROUND
Literature provides ample evidence that tactile-kinesthetic responsiveness is of basic importance for a normal speech development. The purpose of this study was to examine tactile-kinesthetic functions in children with cleft lip palate as they are suspected to be at risk to develop disturbances in this respect because of their anatomic defect.


METHODS
Tactile-kinesthetic responsiveness was measured using the specific DEF-TK questionnaire as previously proposed by Kiese-Himmel. Twenty-seven children aged 1;3 to 7;11 years with cleft lip palate were examined. Forty-two children with an isolated speech development disorder served as age matched controls.


RESULTS
The results of both the study and the control group did not differ on a statistically significant level (p > 0.05). Compared to the data taken from the test manual both groups exhibited a significant number of questionnaires which could not be analyzed because of too many unobservable (not missing!) items, yet, this number did not differ between the two groups. So a "best case" and a "worst case" were calculated but did not reveal significant differences either.


CONCLUSIONS
Surprisingly and in contrast to the results reported in the literature the DEF-TK questionnaire exhibited methodical shortcomings with a significant number of cases in which it could not be analyzed due to too many unobservable items. So, the results obtained can only be discussed under reserve: They indicate that children with cleft lip palate do not exhibit more tactile-kinesthetic problems than children with an isolated speech development disorder and thus do not require specific therapy in this field.
Fischera
M
M
Abteilung für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen.
Hoppe
U
U
Eysholdt
U
U
Rosanowski
F
F
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007699:Kinesthesis; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014110:Touch