title: Oral clefts and behavioral health of young children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the behavioral health of young children with oral clefts, and effects of satisfaction with facial appearance, cleft team care, number of cleft-related surgeries, and socioeconomic status (SES).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a population-based sample of 104 children aged 2-12 years with isolated oral clefts from the state of Iowa. Behavior was evaluated with the Child Behavior Checklist or the Pediatric Behavior Scale 30, depending on age, compared with normative samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Risks of behavioral problems were not significantly different from normative samples except for higher inattention/hyperactivity risks at age 6-12 years. Low satisfaction with facial appearance was associated with behavioral problems in all domains, except aggression. Team-care effects were not associated with behavioral problems. Number of cleft-related surgeries was associated with increased anxiety/depression and somatic symptom risks. Higher SES was associated with reduced inattention/hyperactivity, aggressive/oppositional behavior, and somatic symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most children with oral clefts may have similar behavioral health outcomes to unaffected children, except for increased inattention/hyperactivity risks at older ages. However, low satisfaction with facial appearance, increased exposure to surgeries, and lower SES may significantly increase behavioral problems. Also, the findings emphasize the need to study the representation of behavioral health professionals on cleft teams and access to behavioral health care.
authors: Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. george-wehby@uiowa.edu
authors: G L
authors: GL
authors: Wehby
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Tyler
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Lindgren
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Romitti
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Robbins
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Damiano
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D009035:Mothers; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology