A comparison of intelligence and social maturity in children with unilateral complete clefts and those with isolated cleft palates.

Intelligence and social development were evaluated in 226 subjects with palatal clefts. The subjects were divided into four groups composed of 111 with unilateral complete clefts of the lip and palate (Unilateral Group); 16 with unilateral complete clefts with associated congenital malformations (Unilateral-C Group); 76 with clefts of the palate only (Palatal Group; and 39 with clefts of the palate only with other congenital malformations (Palatal-C Group). Comparisons among groups suggested that subjects in the Unilateral Group were most competent both mentally and socially followed by those in the Palatal, Unilateral-C, and Palatal-C Groups. The presence of congenital abnormalities other than cleft increased the risk of developmental disabilities, particularly in subjects with isolated palatal clefts.