Cleft Palate Repair

The goal of this case series study is to learn if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show how well the palate and throat muscles work at rest and during speech after late cleft palate repair. The surgery uses a technique in which the muscle from the cheek is used to close the gap and repair the cleft and therefore improve speech. The study will answer the question of whether this technique will provide better closure and improved speech in the participants who have not received early treatment. The participants will have the surgery and then have MRI scans 6 months after surgery while resting and speaking specific sounds. Complete speech assessments will also be done 6 months after surgery.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if teaching speech skills to infants with cleft palates, prior to palate repair, will help them to develop speech and language skills. It will also learn about whether the skills are linked to fewer speech sound difficulties when they start school. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do standard, early intervention techniques to promote language development, that are used in children who are late talkers, work in infants with cleft palates? Will infants with cleft palates increase the number of sounds they use after targeted intervention? Can infants attempt to make stop sounds, like b and p, after targeted intervention? Can infants with cleft palate learn new words more quickly when they are used with gestures? Participants will: Participate in a baseline evaluation of speech and language skills, either in person, or via Telehealth. Attend the clinic for twice-weekly visits, for six weeks, to learn techniques to help their infants develop their speech and language skills, in a group setting with other families of infants with cleft palate. Participate in a final evaluation of speech and language skills, either in person, or via Telehealth.