Living with Cleft Lip and Palate: An Exploration of a Pre-Adolescent’s Experience

Article type: Research Article

Authors: McGuire, Aoife^a | Walshe, Margaret^b

Affiliations: [a] Speech and Language Therapist, Health Service Executive, Mid-West Area, Ireland | [b] Lecturer, Dept. of Clinical Speech & Language Studies, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Abstract: There are a great deal of quantitative studies regarding the psychosocial impact of craniofacial anomalies including cleft lip and palate. However, there is a paucity of literature exploring and examining the experiences of individual children living with cleft lip and palate. The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of a pre-adolescent girl with a repaired bilateral cleft lip and palate. A non-experimental qualitative design involving semi-structured interviews was adopted. Themes that emerged included the repeated experience of bullying, negative social experiences and a reliance on others for effective communication. Patterns of conflict in emotions and attitudes were identified as well as patterns of resolution. The findings also confirm the heterogeneity of experience. In conclusion, the study highlights specific issues which are of relevance to speech and language therapists working in the area of cleft lip and palate, emphasising the need for further research in the area.

Keywords: cleft lip and palate, heterogeneity of experience, psychosocial impact

DOI: 10.3233/ACS-2005-15103

Journal: Journal of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 1-13, 2005