Abstract
This paper is intended for setting a standard for application of palatoplasty to the infant afflicted with cleft palate in addition to serious developmental delay, by analyzing the cases of this kind observed over the past 10 years. Eighteen cases were chosen as study samples, comprising those who were diagnosed as possessing multiple anomalies or abnormal chromosomes just after birth and those whose stabilization of heads delayed by more than 5 months and are diagnosed as psycho-motor-developmental delay before undergoing palato plasty.
The items studied are 1) how many weeks the infant stayed in the uterus,2) weight at birth,3) growth before operation 4) age at operation,5) weight at operation,6)velopharyngeal function,7) acquisition of speech,8) feeding function.
Based upon the results of the analyses mentioned above, it seem s possible to fix a standard for application of palatoplasty to the cleft palate infant with serious developmental delay in the following way.
1. The infant shou l d be in good physical condition.
2. Contacts with other departments such as pediatri c s and anesthesiology should be available, when necessary.
3. The infa n t's head should be stable, and his language development should be over 6 months.
4. The infant's babbling or utterance should be frequent.
When all fcur conditions are met, palatoplasty should be r ecommended for the infant of the age of 2 or 3, even though the infant weighs less than 10 kg, expecting the improvement of his feeding function and the facilitation of his babbling.
Conclusion, it seems necessary to offer mental assistance to t he family of the patient, and check his development and feeding function regularly.
