Speech Services
Children with clefts often struggle to speak even after surgery
Clefts and Speech
Like all children, those with clefts begin learning about speech from their very first day of life. Unlike most other children, however, their mouths and lips can make developing normal speech habits impossible because of:
- Language Delay
- Articulation Problems
- Hypernasality
- Nasal Air Emission
- Compensatory Articulation Errors
- Voice Problems
The earlier a child receives surgery, the less likely it is that these problems develop. As children with clefts grow, a trained speech professional should follow their speech and communication development closely. Even after cleft palate surgery, they may still need specialized speech therapy and might even require a second palate surgery to ensure that their palatal structures and muscles are in place for proper articulation.
Early Surgical Treatment
The following links offer more information about understanding cleft-affected speech:
Speech-Language Pathologist
A speech-language pathologist, often referred to as a speech therapist, is a specially trained healthcare professional who provides speech and language services in a medical setting, school, private clinic, or home-based intervention program. Typical goals of the therapy are to (1) establish correct articulatory placement; (2) maximize oral pressure for the pressure consonant sounds (plosives, fricatives, and affricates); and (3) maximize oral-pharyngeal articulatory function. The overall goal of speech therapy is to have the child achieve normal speech and communication for their age and developmental level.
Speech Home Practice & Parent Resources
Practicing at home is essential to a child’s success in speech therapy. While a speech-language pathologist may work with a child weekly or monthly, parents and caregivers interact with their child every day.
Smile Train's Mobile Speech Services
Smile Train has developed a free, interactive speech services app with stories, games, and songs for children with clefts. This fun, convenient app encourages children to practice more often, for better speech outcomes. Available for free in English, Spanish, and Filipino in Google Play and Apple App Store.
Importance of Caregivers
Caregivers play an important role in a child’s speech and language development. Children will need encouragement and positive feedback when participating in treatment sessions and reinforcement when practicing in their everyday environment. It is important to work with a child’s speech development professional to cultivate a speech program that can be practiced at home. The following resources help caregivers understand their role and also practice speech at home.