Speech understandability of repaired cleft palate patients pre and post caregiver training

Background: Treating speech and language problems in repaired cleft palate patients in India is still an uphill task due to lack of facilities. This study attempted to use parents as team members for the speech management of cleft palate patients in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Objectives: To investigate whether a positive change in speech understandability for individuals with cleft palate will result from a parent-administered intervention program.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight parents had enrolled for the speech camp held in September 2004. The parent-training program at the speech camp ensured that parents were given adequate awareness. Out of the 28, 18 (64.28%) reported for one follow-up, referred to in this article as Group I. Ten (35.72%) out of the 28 came for two consecutive follow-ups, referred to in this article as Group II.
Results: Pre and post training understandability scores obtained in the known context (reciting a familiar poem in the native language, counting 1 to 10) and unknown context (peer group names, family information, describing their journey from home to hospital) for Group I and Group II were evaluated. Results revealed that a higher percentage of cases showed significant improvement in understandability in the unknown context after treatment. Unknown context can be considered a measure to assess speech understandability after training. Further, it shows that parent training without practice at home may not show the desired results.
Conclusion: This study reveals that parents can effect a positive change in the speech understandability of their children following training, provided the exercises are carried out regularly at home and the parents report for the follow-up assessments and guidance.