Speech results following late palatal surgery in previously unoperated Sri Lankan adolescents with cleft palate.

Abstract

The speech of 18 Sinhala speaking patients over 11 years of age with previously unrepaired palatal clefts is presented preoperatively, 8 months postoperatively, and after two brief courses of speech therapy (8 and 12 months postoperatively). Speech was usually severely disordered in the unoperated patient. The postoperative results show that speech often remains disordered following surgery, but there is the potential for change in some patients when supported by intensive goal directed therapy.