A study of speech, language, hearing, and dentition in children with cleft lip only.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of speech, language, hearing, and dental problems in children with an initial diagnosis of isolated cleft lip only (CL), for which evidence-based practice can be developed.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 95 patients with cleft lip (age range, 2.8 to 3.7 years; mean, 3.1 years).


RESULTS
Speech and language impairment was documented in 13% and 18% of the patients, respectively. Thirty-three percent of the children presented with middle ear effusion. Thirteen percent had abnormal hearing. With one exception, the type and degree of hearing loss was a mild conductive loss most often attributed to the presence of effusion. Dental and/or occlusal anomalies were documented in 62% of the patients. A supernumerary tooth was the most frequently occurring dental anomaly and crossbite the most frequently occurring occlusal anomaly. Two children had a submucous cleft palate. Resonance was abnormal in 5% of the children.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with an initial diagnosis of CL need to be monitored by the interdisciplinary team for speech, language, ear disease, hearing, and dentition beginning in infancy and followed until all management needs are met.
Vallino
Linda D
LD
Head of the Craniofacial Outcomes Research Laboratory, Center for Pediatric Auditory and Speech Sciences, Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, Vallino@asel.udel.edu
Zuker
Ronald
R
Napoli
Joseph A
JA
D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000145:classification; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000209:etiology; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology*; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000209:etiology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology