Evaluation of cleft palate speech

Children born with palatal clefts are at risk for speech/language delay and speech problems related to palatal insufficiency. These individuals require regular speech evaluations, starting in the first year of life and often continuing into adulthood. The primary role of the speech pathologist on the cleft palate/craniofacial team is to evaluate whether deviations in oral cavity structures, such as the velopharynx, negatively impact speech production. This article focuses on the assessment of velopharyngeal function before and after palatal surgery.