Phonetic, phonological, and language skills of children with a cleft palate

• Published in: The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal 2003-09, Vol.40 (5), p.460-470
• Main Authors: MORRIS, Helen, OZANNE, Anne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Articulation Disorders - diagnosis; Articulation Disorders - etiology; Articulation Disorders - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Child Language; Child, Preschool; Cleft Palate - complications; Cleft Palate - physiopathology; Cleft Palate - surgery; Dentistry; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Language Development Disorders - diagnosis; Language Development Disorders - etiology; Language Development Disorders - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Observer Variation; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Phonetics; Reproducibility of Results; Speech - physiology; Speech Articulation Tests; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology
• ISSN: 1055-6656; 1545-1569
• DOI: 10.1597/1545-1569(2003)040<0460:PPALSO>2.0.CO;2

To evaluate the language, phonetic, and phonological skills at age 3 years of two groups of young children with a cleft palate, with different expressive language proficiency at 2 years of age. Two groups of children with a cleft palate with differing abilities in early expressive language skills were identified at age 2 years. Comparisons across groups were made over a range of speech and language measures at age 3 years. Twenty children with cleft palate were allocated to two groups dependent on expressive language abilities at age 2 years. One group had normal language development, and the second group had been identified as having significantly delayed (8 to 12 months' delay) expressive language development. The children were assessed at 3 years of age using standardized assessments and spontaneous speech samples. Comparisons between the two groups were made on a range of language measures including comprehension, expressive language, and speech. Group differences were found on both language and speech abilities at age 3 years. Significant group differences were found in expressive language, percentage of consonants correct, phonetic inventory, and phonological process usage. The group with delayed early expressive language abilities at 2 years continued to have expressive language difficulties at 3 years of age and had more disordered speech development, compared with the nondelayed group. A subgroup of children with a cleft palate was identified who exhibited delays in early expressive language and continued to have delayed language and disordered phonological patterns at a later age. Support for three possible etiologies including a structural/anatomical deficit, cognitive/linguistic delay, or language/phonological disorder are discussed.