Special Interest Group 05 - Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Disorders

List View
Grid View
5 Products

New!
Feeding Infants with Orofacial Clefts: Integration of Evidence, Expertise, and Collaborative Care Models
Format(s): SIG Perspectives
Feeding infants with orofacial clefting presents a unique and complex clinical challenge requiring individualized care strategies and collaborative practice with providers from a variety of disciplines. The three articles in this SIG 5 activity collectively emphasize the importance of clinical expertise, evidence-based, and patient- and family-centered approaches to feeding interventions for this population. The first article is a qualitative study which explores the current feeding practices and training experiences of expert healthcare providers (one registered nurse, one nurse practitioner, and two speech-language pathologists [SLPs]) who work with infants with cleft lip and/or palate. Through interviews with the four experienced professionals, the study reveals significant variation in practice approaches, education pathways, and challenges in interdisciplinary collaboration. Analysis of their qualitative interviews reveals four sequential themes, (1) Informal Education and Training, (2) Multidisciplinary Practice Issues, (3) Clinical Decision Making, and (4) Recommendations. The discussion highlights that all providers relied most heavily on their clinical experience and had a desire for more formalized training mechanisms in this specialized area of care. The second article is a clinical focus piece which highlights the value of collaborative assessments between Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and SLPs when working with children with cleft lip and/or palate experiencing feeding and growth challenges. The authors outline recommended materials, intervention timelines, and assessment tools to guide joint evaluations. Using frequently asked questions, resources, and case studies, the article demonstrates how combined evaluations enhanced patient care by addressing both nutritional needs and feeding skill development. The authors propose that dyadic visits between RDNs and SLPs support a more holistic, family-centered approach to feeding intervention for patients with clefts. The third article is a tutorial to help clinicians determine appropriate feeding methods and interventions for infants with orofacial clefts. It builds upon the oral peripheral exam as the critical first step to identifying signs of feeding difficulty in this population. Authors then review cleft-adapted bottle options, flow rates, and strategies to ensure sufficient nutritional intake, including nipple and infant positioning, milk fortification, and others. The article emphasizes individualized intervention, thorough documentation, and the need for ongoing monitoring. This framework is intended as a starting point for conducting detailed oral exams, customized feeding plans, and to effectively communicate feeding techniques and rationales to caregivers. Feeding infants with orofacial clefting involves more than just managing anatomic challenges—it demands a coordinated, knowledgeable, and compassionate team effort. The articles in this activity offer valuable insights into current practices, persistent gaps, and promising strategies that can guide clinicians toward more consistent, effective, and family-centered care.
Examining How Psychosocial Factors Affecting Cleft and Craniofacial Populations Impact Speech Pathologist Care
Format(s): SIG Perspectives
This SIG 5 Perspectives course contains articles that discuss the psychosocial impacts of craniofacial care on patients and their caregivers. The articles include a literature review highlighting pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS) and findings of a survey examining how psychosocial barriers impact patient and family compliance with home exercise programs (HEPs).
An International Perspective on Clinical Research in SLP Cleft Care
Format(s): SIG Perspectives
These SIG 5 articles discuss surgical and parent-led therapy approaches for improved speech and resonance outcomes, and describe characteristics needed in an evaluation to analyze clinically obtained data for research purposes. The articles are from a forum titled An International Perspective on Clinical Research in Speech-Language Pathology Cleft Care.
Cleft Lip and Palate Care and the Opioid Crisis
Format(s): SIG Perspectives
This SIG 5 activity analyzes the relationship between the opioid crisis and cleft lip and palate care across the life span. Two main themes of prevention and treatment after exposure are explained. The articles outline alternatives to opioid use after cleft-related surgeries, impacts on infants and children who were exposed in utero, and velopharyngeal insufficiency treatment after substance abuse.
Diagnostic Measures for Velopharyngeal Function
Format(s): SIG Perspectives
This Perspectives activity highlights two articles with objective measures for both evaluation and treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction. The first article discusses the palatal closure efficiency (PaCE) index. This is an aerodynamic tool used to estimate the velopharyngeal opening during certain speech contexts. This is done by measuring a percentage of change between nasal and oral cognates of an individual. The second article describes the nasometer in depth, highlighting its use as an evaluation and treatment tool for decreasing hypernasality. It goes into further detail on the differences between hypernasality and measured nasalance, highlighting both strengths and limitations of the nasalance score.

You have added this item to your cart.