Speech and Resonance Disorders in Children With Cleft Palate: Diagnostic Evaluation and Current Speech Therapy Modalities

Abstract

This article will provide an overview of how speech and resonance can be impacted in children with cleft palate. The authors will outline evidence-based assessment and treatment approaches commonly used for children with cleft palate and provide information on current initiatives to provide speech therapy. The methods discussed will be the use of telehealth to provide access to speech therapy for patients in areas without speech-language pathologists and the use of speech therapy camps to offer intensive, limited-duration speech therapy for groups of children due to the lack of trained providers in certain geographical regions.

Keywords: Assessment; intervention; speech therapy; telemedicine; velopharyngeal dysfunction.