B J A Smarius1,2, S Haverkamp3, H de Wilde3, A van Wijck-Warnaar4, A B Mink van der Molen5,6, C C Breugem7,8. 1. Department of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, P.O. BOX 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. b.j.a.smarius@umcutrecht.nl. 2. Department of Surgery, Meander Medical Centre, Amersfoort, The Netherlands. b.j.a.smarius@umcutrecht.nl. 3. Speech and Language Therapy, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, P.O. BOX 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 6. Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Plastic Surgery, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, The Netherlands. 8. Department of Plastic Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Clinicians agree that children with isolated cleft lip have fewer cleft-associated problems than children with cleft lip and palate. Unfortunately, for isolated cleft lip children, the risk of cleft-associated problems is unknown and maybe underestimated. Often, these children do not get the required follow-up by a multidisciplinary team and thereby not the known benefits in supporting their development. This study examines the incidence of cleft-related speech problems and ear problems in children with isolated cleft lip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed on all children born with an isolated cleft lip and treated at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital in Utrecht between January 2007 and April 2014. Data were collected for sex, date of birth, genetics, cleft lip type, date of cleft lip repair, type of repair, speech/language problems, and ear problems. RESULTS: This study included 75 patients (59% male). The mean age of the children at the moment of speech examination was 32.5 months (SD 6.1). Eighteen of the 75 children (24%) needed speech and language therapy; however, only one child (1.3%) had a cleft-related speech problem. Sixteen of the 75 patients (21%) reported a history of one or more episodes of acute otitis media (AOM)/otitis media with effusion (OME) during the first 6 years. CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first prospective study analyzing the incidence of cleft-related speech problems in children with an isolated cleft lip. These children do not have a higher risk of cleft-related speech problems or AOM/OME when compared to the general population. However, children with an isolated cleft do have a higher incidence of speech therapy.
OBJECTIVES: Clinicians agree that children with isolated cleft lip have fewer cleft-associated problems than children with cleft lip and palate. Unfortunately, for isolated cleft lipchildren, the risk of cleft-associated problems is unknown and maybe underestimated. Often, these children do not get the required follow-up by a multidisciplinary team and thereby not the known benefits in supporting their development. This study examines the incidence of cleft-related speech problems and ear problems in children with isolated cleft lip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed on all children born with an isolated cleft lip and treated at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital in Utrecht between January 2007 and April 2014. Data were collected for sex, date of birth, genetics, cleft lip type, date of cleft lip repair, type of repair, speech/language problems, and ear problems. RESULTS: This study included 75 patients (59% male). The mean age of the children at the moment of speech examination was 32.5 months (SD 6.1). Eighteen of the 75 children (24%) needed speech and language therapy; however, only one child (1.3%) had a cleft-related speech problem. Sixteen of the 75 patients (21%) reported a history of one or more episodes of acute otitis media (AOM)/otitis media with effusion (OME) during the first 6 years. CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first prospective study analyzing the incidence of cleft-related speech problems in children with an isolated cleft lip. These children do not have a higher risk of cleft-related speech problems or AOM/OME when compared to the general population. However, children with an isolated cleft do have a higher incidence of speech therapy.
Authors: Anna K Sander; Elisabeth Grau; Anita Kloss-Brandstätter; Rüdiger Zimmerer; Michael Neuhaus; Alexander K Bartella; Bernd Lethaus Journal: Cleft Palate Craniofac J Date: 2021-08-19