This research study, conducted as part of my PhD programme of studies, and supervised by Dr Phoebe Macrae, Tika Ormond and Dr Nicola Stock, piloted introducing a cleft-specific speech language therapy service for adolescents and adults (those aged 12+) in the University of Canterbury Speech and Hearing clinic. In addition to offering speech language therapy, we also provided routine clinical psychology services alongside and evaluated the effect of the two services using CLEFT-Q patient reported outcome measures. Student and staff clinicians from the University of Canterbury provided the services in partnership with the SLT service at Christchurch Hospital, and with supervision from a UK Cleft Team psychologist.
Alongside CLEFT-Q data, we also conducted exit interviews with patients as they finished their intervention within the clinic to better understand their experience of the clinic in their own words. Finally, we conducted exit interviews with student and staff clinicians to understand their experience of working within the clinic and collaborating across discipline.
The study found notable benefit of offering cleft-specific SLT services into adulthood (at any age), availability of a clinical psychology service, and of having student clinicians gain experience working with cleft. The article offers practical recommendations to support ongoing development of adolescent and adult cleft services, speech therapy and psychological services, student placement and collaborative working opportunities, and future research.
Thank you to all the young people and adults with cleft, clinicians, and student clinicians who participated in this study. Thank you to University of Canterbury and Christchurch Hospital staff for their support of the study, and to our external psychology supervisor in the UK. A full list of acknowledgements are presented within the article.
This article is available open access (free of charge). Read the article here.
Supplementary materials are available here.
Kenny Ardouin 
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