Speech Therapy Intensity Study for Children Ages 4 to 12 With Cleft Palate and Speech Disorders

What this Trial Is About

A cleft lip andor palate CPL is a common birth condition affecting the face and skull, impacting speech, hearing, feeding, oral behavior, teeth, and appearance. These effects can harm social integration and well-being over time. The World Health Organization highlights the financial and emotional burdens on patients, families, and society. This study compares high- and low-intensity speech therapy for children with CPL, focusing on the views of speech therapists and families to understand their experiences and acceptability. The study evaluates two speech therapy approaches a high-intensity combined phonetic-phonological intervention given five times a week for 30 minutes over two 4-week periods, and a low-intensity intervention given twice weekly for 30 minutes over 20 weeks. Interviews with therapists and children plus caregivers will explore their perceptions of these interventions. The study may adjust the high-intensity therapy based on feedback to improve its use in clinical practice. Participants will take part in recorded interviews at convenient times and complete demographic questionnaires. Medical data on the cleft type, surgery history, and earhearing status will be reviewed. The study measures the perceptions and acceptability of the two therapy intensities over 20 weeks. This information aims to support better implementation of high-intensity speech therapy and improve outcomes for children with CPL.

High and Low Intensity Speech Intervention in Children With a Cleft Palate: Perceptions of Children, Their Caregivers and Speech-language Pathologists