 Children should be monitored as early as possible even for first sounds, babbling and words. A good seal between the mouth and the nose is required for correct speech. Movement of the soft palate and the muscles in the throat create the seal. The soft palate must make contact with the back of the throat. Babies born with a cleft of the palate with or without a cleft of the lip may have speech problems. Sounds of the consonants (/p b// t d//k g// ch//and s//) can be diffi cult. Sometimes, air escapes through the nose when making these sounds and the voice has a nasal quality. A speech therapist needs to see these children routinely to assess and help improve the speech. If necessary, the speech therapist can develop exercises to help in making the correct sounds. It is sometimes necessary to assess the muscle activity during speech. This is done with a moving x-ray called fl uoroscopy/ video fl uoroscopy, or by nasophryngoscopy, which involves a small fi bre optic being passed into the nose so that the surgeon can watch the palate and the sidewalls of the throat in action. If the results of the tests show that the muscles do not close the nose properly during speech your child might need an operation to help improve speech and remove the nasal quality. The operation is called a pharyngoplasty. You will usually see the speech therapist at every visit to the clinic. In this way, the language development and speech can be monitored and special programmes developed for your child as the needs arise. REFERENCE: “A PARENTS' GUIDE TO THE TREATMENT OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE” / "‘n OUER-HANDELING VIR DIE BEHANDELING VAN ‘n GESPLETE LIP ENVERHEMELTE" / ISIKHOKELO KUBAZALI NGONYANGO LOMLEBE OCANDEKILEYO NENKALAKAHLA EVULEKILEYO. © Haydn Bellardie 2006. |
Speech and language |