Inquiry on Patients with Cleft Lip and/or Palate (Part One)

Abstract

A questionnaire consisting of 14 items regarding the need for medical treatment or speech therapy was distributed to 320 patients with cleft lip and/or palate including submucous cleft palate and congenital velopharyngeal incompetence. There was a response in 67.2%. The eight items are reported in this paper.
1) The parents tend to avoid to have another baby after delivery of the child with cleft lip and/or palate.
2) Most of the parents have a healthy attitude of child-care, but some indicate anxiety or want to keep their children away from another's gaze.
3) About 70% of the parents were informed of the cleft lip and/or palate within 7 days after delivery. Most of the mothers were informed simply that their child had such a defect. Approximately 25% of the mothers were told about prognosis and treatment.
4) About 50% of cleft lip and/or palate newborns were hospitalized because of the nursing difficulty.
5) About 80% of the cleft lip and palate patients were bottlefed.
6) About 50% of cleft lip and palate were also tube-fed via the nasal cavity.
7) Children with cleft palate tended to be slow in talking. Those with congenital velopharyngeal incompetence or submucous cleft palate were even slower. In children with cleft palate, submucous cleft palate or congenital velopharyngeal incompetence, walking was also delayed.
8) Approximately 80% of the parents received guidance from visiting nurses.
These results indicate the importance of parental guidance after birth.
It is necessary for the parents to have a counselling or a concrete guidance about the child's care and the prognosis of the disease. A team approach is necessary, including doctor, psychologist, health nurse and speech therapist.