A questionnaire survey of attitudes and concerns of three professional groups involved in the cleft palate team

Abstract

This study investigated the opinions of three of the professional groups who treat cleft lip and palate patients in the United Kingdom. Plastic surgeons, orthodontists, and speech therapists were asked to give their opinions regarding adolescents with a unilateral cleft of the lip and palate. A mail questionnaire investigating four main areas: treatment, facial appearance and speech, social and emotional aspects, and the perceived success of the specialists was sent to each subject. Nearly all the subjects reported that they worked as part of a cleft palate team and there was good agreement among the three groups. Although the professionals felt that they have been successful, they were not satisfied with the results of their treatment nor with the patients' overall facial appearance or speech. They also felt that the patients are emotionally and socially affected by their cleft and are teased. The subjects noted that they think patients feel similarly to themselves on all aspects. The significance of the results is discussed.