Speech Improvement of the Patients Performed Primary Palatal Repair over 4 Years Old.

Kang, Cheol Uk; Bae, Yong Chan; Nam, Su Bong; Kang, Young Seok; Kwon, Soon Bok

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Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2006;33(3):308-312.
Published online May 1, 2006.

Speech Improvement of the Patients Performed Primary Palatal Repair over 4 Years Old.

Cheol Uk Kang, Yong Chan Bae, Su Bong Nam, Young Seok Kang, Soon Bok Kwon

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. baeyc2@hanmail.net
²Department of Speech & Language Clinic, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

Time to time, we face patients who missed the proper time for primary palatal repair. Although we do not have enough available documents, it is important to establish efficacy of palatal repair in patients more than 4 years old. From May 1995 to March 2005, we selected 14 patients who underwent palatal repair in more than 4 years old patients and they are able to tolerate speech articulation tests. Out of 14 patients 5 males an 9 females in sex, aged form 4 to 50 years old. 6 patients with incomplete cleft palate and 8 patients with submucous cleft palate. Double reversing Z-plasty(n=5), pushback palatoplasty(n=4), two flap palatoplasty(n=2), von Langenbeck palatoplasty(n=2), and intravelar veloplasty(n=1) were performed. Preoperative and postoperative speech articulation test, "Simple method of speech evaluation in Korean patients with cleft palate", were conducted. Satisfaction rate was sorted into 5 levels. There is no significant statistical correlation in the speech improvement, satisfaction rate, patients sex, cleft type and operative method. But there is significant statistical correlation between the speech improvement and patienet's age. There were better result in younger patient group than aged patients group.

Keywords: Cleft palate; Speech articulation test

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