Understanding long-term impacts of cleft-related speech differences in New Zealand adults

Poster Presentation – Australasian Cleft Lip and Palate Association Conference – Melbourne, Australia – Friday 27 – Sunday 29 October 2023

For more info on the study, please click here.

Poster Text

Authors: Kenny Ardouin1, Nicola Stock2, Tika Ormond1, Phoebe Macrae1
1Te Kura Mahi ā-Hirikapo, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Ōtautahi, Aotearoa | School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
2Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.

Background and Aims

The largest group of people living with repaired cleft lip and/or palate are adults. Previous research has identified cleft-related concerns can persist well into adulthood, and cleft is increasingly recognised as a lifelong condition. Although the physical impact of cleft on speech is well understood, the social and psychological impacts of cleft-related speech differences have not been widely explored. The aim of this study was to examine people’s own perception of their cleft-related speech differences in adulthood, and the impact that this may have had on their education, work and social lives.

Methods and Participants

Seventeen people with cleft aged 18-84 participated in a semi-structured interview (analysed using inductive thematic analysis) and completed self-report measures of speech intelligibility and acceptability, and Harter measures of sociability and job competence (compared to norm data and reported using descriptive statistics).

Experiences of Speech Differences and Speech Language Therapy (SLT)

•More concern with Speech Acceptability than Speech Intelligibility
•Most participants reported some ongoing cleft-related speech differences
•Some participants avoid activities which involve speaking – e.g. talking on the phone
•Around half had received SLT input – older participants were less likely to have received SLT services
•Of those who had received SLT, most were satisfied with the service
•Around half would like to see SLT now for further intervention if available

Educational, Vocational and Social Experiences

•People perceived their cleft as positive, neutral, or negative – e.g. some participants felt cleft had helped their career, others felt it had hindered them
•Many had avoided opportunities due to cleft-related differences
•Most had experienced prejudice in their lifetime – including bullying, overt discrimination, unconscious bias.
•People had strong family relationships and friendships, but difficulty initiating new friendships and romantic relationships.
•Cleft-related concerns influence intimacy – e.g. scars on hips from alveolar bonegraft, fear about function during kissing
•Most people thought about their cleft when meeting somebody for the first time