Behavior and achievement of cleft palate children.

Forty-four cleft lip and palate/palate only children were individually matched with forty-four normal school children on the basis of sex, age, grade, intelligence and socioeconomic status. All children received behavioral ratings by classroom teachers, and achievement test scores were obtained. The cleft children were rated by teachers as displaying significantly greater inhibition of impulse (internalizing behavior). Cleft children also were significantly lower on overall basic skills achievement test scores. It was suggested that cleft children may be responding to the social-behavioral environment which may include negative social responses from others.