Craniofacial Disorders
Speech and feeding challenges associated with structural differences of the head and face.
Craniofacial disorders are congenital or acquired conditions that affect the structure of the head and face, including cleft lip and palate, Pierre Robin sequence, Treacher Collins syndrome, and other syndromes involving facial differences. These structural variations can significantly impact speech production, resonance, feeding, and swallowing from infancy through adulthood.
Children born with cleft palate frequently present with hypernasal speech, nasal air emission, compensatory articulation patterns, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Feeding difficulties may also be present in infancy due to the inability to create adequate oral suction. A team-based approach involving surgeons, orthodontists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists is essential for comprehensive care.
Speech-language pathologists provide critical intervention across the lifespan for individuals with craniofacial disorders. Services include pre- and post-surgical feeding support, articulation therapy targeting compensatory error patterns, resonance therapy, and collaboration with the surgical team regarding the need for secondary surgical procedures to address velopharyngeal insufficiency.
Signs & Symptoms
- •Hypernasal speech or audible nasal air emission during speech
- •Compensatory articulation errors such as glottal stops or pharyngeal fricatives
- •Difficulty with feeding and swallowing in infancy
- •Delayed speech and language development
- •Recurrent ear infections and associated hearing concerns
Treatment Approaches
- •Pre- and post-surgical feeding therapy and specialized bottle systems
- •Articulation therapy targeting elimination of compensatory error patterns
- •Resonance therapy and oral-nasal balance training
- •Collaboration with craniofacial surgical team for velopharyngeal management
- •Ongoing monitoring of speech, language, and hearing throughout development
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