Does Your Child Need Cleft Palate Speech Therapy?

Posted on 10/16/2024 by NC Pediatric Dentisty

Little person in a dental chair with anxiety.

As a pediatric dentist, I often work with children who have cleft palates. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth that can affect a child's speech, hearing, and feeding. While surgery can repair the physical cleft, speech therapy is often necessary to help children develop proper speech patterns.

This article will discuss the signs that your child may need cleft palate speech therapy, the benefits of therapy, and what to expect from the process.

Signs Your Child Needs Speech Therapy

If your child has a cleft palate, they may need speech therapy if they exhibit any of the following signs:

•	Difficulty making certain sounds, such as "s," "z," "sh," "ch," and "j"
•	Nasal-sounding speech
•	Difficulty being understood by others
•	Difficulty with feeding, including problems with sucking or swallowing

Benefits of Cleft Palate Speech Therapy

Cleft palate speech therapy can help children with cleft palates develop proper speech patterns and improve their communication skills. Speech therapy can also help children:

•	Improve their articulation (the way they make sounds)
•	Improve their resonance (the way their voice sounds)
•	Improve their fluency (the way they speak smoothly and without hesitations)
•	Improve their feeding skills

What to Expect from Cleft Palate Speech Therapy

Cleft palate speech therapy is typically provided by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). The SLP will work with your child to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to their individual needs. Treatment may include:

•	Exercises to improve muscle strength and coordination
•	Activities to improve articulation and resonance
•	Strategies to improve fluency
•	Feeding therapy

The frequency and duration of speech therapy will vary depending on the severity of your child's cleft palate and their specific needs. However, most children with cleft palates will need speech therapy for several years.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Early intervention is crucial for helping children with cleft palates develop proper speech patterns. If you suspect that your child may need speech therapy, it is important to talk to your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist as soon as possible. Early intervention can help your child avoid speech problems later in life.

Cleft palate speech therapy can be a valuable tool for helping children with cleft palates develop proper speech patterns and improve their communication skills. If you suspect that your child may need speech therapy, please talk to your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist as soon as possible.

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Does Your Child Need Cleft Palate Speech Therapy?

Signs Your Child Needs Speech Therapy

Benefits of Cleft Palate Speech Therapy

What to Expect from Cleft Palate Speech Therapy

The Importance of Early Intervention

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