The influence of the age at which the palate is closed on speech in the adult cleft patient.

A follow-up study was done on adult cleft patients with a total unilateral cleft with regard to the influence of the time of closure of the palate on speech. It was established that postponement of surgery of the palate from 3 to 6 years did not influence the ultimate result in respect of speech. One of the interesting findings was that in those patients who were operated on at the age of 3 there were more compensations than in those patients who were operated on at the age of 6. Pharyngoplasty did produce a satisfactory obturation between nasopharynx and the oral cavity in both age groups, but the ultimate quality of speech was clearly inferior to those patients who were not subjected to pharyngoplasty.