Communication Disorders Associated with Cleft Palate

The ability to communicate using speech is a distinctly human characteristic. It is, in fact, what makes us “human” and differentiates us from other species. Communication is a basic human right. It is well known that the presence of a cleft lip and palate or isolated cleft palate may negatively impact a child’s ability to communicate effectively and therefore cause significant social, emotional, and educational hardship. Thus, the evaluation and management of communication disorders associated with cleft palate is a critical aspect of comprehensive cleft care. It is also accepted that children with cleft palate are optimally cared for by an interdisciplinary team of experts working together.1 Although no single team member can have sufficient breadth and depth of experience across the various disciplines to provide comprehensive cleft care, it is important nevertheless that team members understand and appreciate the contributions of other disciplines and have an adequate appreciation of the subject matter of related disciplines. When this is accomplished, cleft care is ideally transdisciplinary, rather than interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary.2