Effectiveness of the Corrective Babbling Speech Treatment Program for Children with a History of Cleft Palate or Velopharyngeal Dysfunction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of a phonetic-based, parent-administered treatment to reduce cleft-related speech errors. Design Immediate treatment (IT) versus delayed treatment (DT) comparison followed by analysis of gains over approximately 4 months and again after a longer period of treatment for participants in both groups. Participants Thirteen participants with a history of cleft palate or velopharyngeal dysfunction and speech disorder. Intervention After training, parents were instructed to conduct daily 10-minute sessions of phonetic drills with their children. Main Outcome Measures Group differences in percent consonants correct (PCC) were compared between those who did and those who did not receive the treatment. Pre- and posttreatment PCC comparisons were made after approximately 4 months of treatment and after termination of treatment. Results Participants receiving Corrective Babbling therapy showed significant gains in PCC in limited contexts after 4 months of therapy. However, gains were not significantly greater for the IT versus DT group. Participants who continued with the treatment for longer than 4 months showed the greatest gains in PCC and had significant improvements in all speech contexts assessed. Parents reported satisfaction with the program. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that this treatment shows promise for at least some children with a history of cleft palate and velopharyngeal dysfunction.