Evaluation of the effect of palatoplasty on the quality of life and speech outcomes in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome

BACKGROUND: Children diagnosed with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) suffer from various disabilities. Palatal abnormalities, as well as speech and language impairment, adversely affect a child's quality of life (QoL) and are some of the most distressing aspects for the parents of these children.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to explore the effect of palatoplasty on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and speech outcomes in children with VCFS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study recruited 20 patients (N = 20) with VCFS and connected speech, aged 3 years or older, having either undiagnosed submucous cleft palate (SMCP) or velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), and requiring primary cleft palate surgery or revision surgery. Speech assessment was conducted prior to palatoplasty and 6 months after the surgery. Intelligibility and hypernasality were evaluated using the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech - Augmented (CAPS-A). The parent proxy-report form of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) was used to evaluate and compare the HRQoL of the VCFS patients before and after palatoplasty.

RESULTS: Significant improvement in the HRQoL scores was achieved after the surgery across all domains (physical, emotional, social, and school functioning), especially in the emotional and social dimensions (p < 0.000). The post-operative speech assessment based on CAPS-A demonstrated improvement in speech intelligibility and hypernasality in the majority of patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Given that children with VCFS face various medical and social problems, suitable palatal interventions are beneficial, improving both the speech ability and QoL of these children.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:61

Enthalten in:

Dental and medical problems - 61(2024), 1 vom: 01. Jan., Seite 29-34

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Habibagahi, Raha [VerfasserIn]
Fallahi, Hamid Reza [VerfasserIn]
Neghabian, Nina [VerfasserIn]
Hoghoughi, Mohammad Ali [VerfasserIn]
Babanouri, Neda [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Cleft palate
DiGeorge syndrome
Journal Article
Quality of life

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 21.02.2024

Date Revised 21.02.2024

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.17219/dmp/130094

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM368664112