Abstract
Objective
About 1 in 700 children is born with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP). The malformation is already often prenatal discovered. That makes that parents are better prepared when they see the unusual face of their baby right after birth. However they need emotional support and correct information about the treatment, which preferably focuses on optimal growth of the mid-face and normal speech and language development. Cleft lip and palate form an established risk for communication problems. Once a delay has emerged, all subsequent phases will be delayed. Therefore, a preventive approach in treatment is designated. The aim of our study is to improve the intervention in speech and language for this target group.
Method: We developed a customized programme: the ‘Parent Focused Approach’ (PFA), for prevention and early detection of communication problems in children with cleft lip and palate. In this approach parents learn to offer ‘reinforced stimulation’ in interactions during daily activities with their child.
The PFA is based on principles of the Hanen-Centre in Toronto, principles of Ward, Girolametto, Montfort, Golding-Kushner, Jansonius, Tan and Njiokiktjien. It contains 3 pillars of communicative behaviour: parent-child interaction, early social and communicative skills, receptive and expressive language skills. The impact of the PFA was examined in a randomized control/intervention design in children from 6 to 30 months. We followed the children at least till the age of 3 years.
Results: None of the children showed severe compensatory articulation, and none of them needed a pharyngoplasty. The stimulation of intensive looking and listening behaviour appears to be critical.
Conclusion/take home message: The PFA is found to be a valuable intervention in order to prevent or limit the common speech problems in this target group.
About 1 in 700 children is born with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP). The malformation is already often prenatal discovered. That makes that parents are better prepared when they see the unusual face of their baby right after birth. However they need emotional support and correct information about the treatment, which preferably focuses on optimal growth of the mid-face and normal speech and language development. Cleft lip and palate form an established risk for communication problems. Once a delay has emerged, all subsequent phases will be delayed. Therefore, a preventive approach in treatment is designated. The aim of our study is to improve the intervention in speech and language for this target group.
Method: We developed a customized programme: the ‘Parent Focused Approach’ (PFA), for prevention and early detection of communication problems in children with cleft lip and palate. In this approach parents learn to offer ‘reinforced stimulation’ in interactions during daily activities with their child.
The PFA is based on principles of the Hanen-Centre in Toronto, principles of Ward, Girolametto, Montfort, Golding-Kushner, Jansonius, Tan and Njiokiktjien. It contains 3 pillars of communicative behaviour: parent-child interaction, early social and communicative skills, receptive and expressive language skills. The impact of the PFA was examined in a randomized control/intervention design in children from 6 to 30 months. We followed the children at least till the age of 3 years.
Results: None of the children showed severe compensatory articulation, and none of them needed a pharyngoplasty. The stimulation of intensive looking and listening behaviour appears to be critical.
Conclusion/take home message: The PFA is found to be a valuable intervention in order to prevent or limit the common speech problems in this target group.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - May 2015 |
| Event | EUROPEAN CPLOL CONGRESS: EUROPEAN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY CONGRESS - Palazzo degli Affari, Florence, Italy Duration: 7 May 2015 → 9 May 2015 http://www.cplolcongress2015.eu |
Conference
| Conference | EUROPEAN CPLOL CONGRESS |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Italy |
| City | Florence |
| Period | 7/05/15 → 9/05/15 |
| Internet address |