Prevalence of Reading Difficulties in 9- to 10-Year Old Children in Sweden Born With Cleft Palate

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of reading difficulties in children born with cleft palate at ages 9 and 10 in Sweden. Design: Using a cross-sectional design, a parental questionnaire assessing dyslexia-like reading difficulties (Short Dyslexia Scale, SDS) was administered together with separate questions regarding background data. Participants: Families with a child born with overt cleft palate with or without cleft lip in 4 regions of Sweden. A total of 245 families were approached of which 138 families responded. Data from 136 (56%) were complete with information on cleft type and could be analyzed. Results: Twenty-two percent (95% CI, 15-30) of the whole study group displayed risk for dyslexic reading difficulties on the SDS corresponding to the 7th to 10th percentiles in the population. Children with cleft palate only had a significantly higher prevalence of reading difficulties (37%) compared to children with unilateral cleft palate (19%) and bilateral cleft palate (10%). The frequency of reading difficulties in participants with comorbidity was 32%. Among a subgroup with reported comorbidity in areas of attention, language, and learning problems, there was a 2.5 times higher risk of reading disability compared to participants without this reported comorbidity. Conclusion: The prevalence of reading difficulties in the cleft palate population was higher than in the general population. Results showed that co-occurring difficulties were common in the cleft group and that reading difficulties often appear together with other, co-occurring neurodevelopmental difficulties.