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ABSTRACT: Background
No consensus exists on the optimal treatment protocol for orofacial clefts or the optimal timing of cleft palate closure. This study investigated factors influencing speech outcomes after two-stage palate repair in adults with a non-syndromal complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a UCLP who underwent two-stage palate closure and were treated at our tertiary cleft centre. Patients ?17 years of age were invited for a final speech assessment. Their medical history was obtained from their medical files, and speech outcomes were assessed by a speech pathologist during the follow-up consultation.Results
Forty-eight patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 21 years (standard deviation, 3.4 years). Their mean age at the time of hard and soft palate closure was 3 years and 8.0 months, respectively. In 40% of the patients, a pharyngoplasty was performed. On a 5-point intelligibility scale, 84.4% received a score of 1 or 2; meaning that their speech was intelligible. We observed a significant correlation between intelligibility scores and the incidence of articulation errors (P<0.001). In total, 36% showed mild to moderate hypernasality during the speech assessment, and 11%-17% of the patients exhibited increased nasalance scores, assessed through nasometry.Conclusions
The present study describes long-term speech outcomes after two-stage palatoplasty with hard palate closure at a mean age of 3 years old. We observed moderate long-term intelligibility scores, a relatively high incidence of persistent hypernasality, and a high pharyngoplasty incidence.
SUBMITTER: Kappen IFPM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5447529 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kappen Isabelle Francisca Petronella Maria IFPM Bittermann Dirk D Janssen Laura L Bittermann Gerhard Koendert Pieter GKP Boonacker Chantal C Haverkamp Sarah S de Wilde Hester H Van Der Heul Marise M Specken Tom Fjmc TF Koole Ron R Kon Moshe M Breugem Corstiaan Cornelis CC Mink van der Molen Aebele Barber AB
Archives of plastic surgery 20170522 3
<h4>Background</h4>No consensus exists on the optimal treatment protocol for orofacial clefts or the optimal timing of cleft palate closure. This study investigated factors influencing speech outcomes after two-stage palate repair in adults with a non-syndromal complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).<h4>Methods</h4>This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with a UCLP who underwent two-stage palate closure and were treated at our tertiary cleft centre. Patients ≥17 years of ag ...[more]