Multisensory input therapy for young children born with cleft palate
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Multisensory input therapy for young children with cleft related speech patterns
IRAS ID
160513
Contact name
Samantha Calladine
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St James's University Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
A cleft palate affects early speech development. Before children have their palate operation they are unable to make sounds like ‘b, d’ and have a tendency to make more sounds at the back of their mouth and in their throat. For some children, such cleft related speech patterns disappear after the operation, but not for all.
Cleft related speech patterns can be identified from about 18-24 months of age, when speech and language therapy usually begins. Multisensory Input Therapy (MSIT) is one of the approaches used with children up until about three years of age. Speech sounds are modelled by the Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to increase the child’s awareness of different sounds. The aim is to change the child’s internal store of sounds and for them to develop more accurate speech patterns. Speech production is not a focus, which is why it is particularly suitable for young children, but the therapist will give feedback if the child produces speech. Videos of therapy are often made for the child to watch at home with their family as a way of increasing opportunities for speech practice.
Little is known about how cleft related speech patterns change in children this young when they are receiving therapy. The current study will explore this by analysing videos of children receiving MSIT. Analysis of therapist behaviours will help us understand how therapy is delivered. Analysis of child speech productions will help us to understand how their patterns change. Consideration will be made of how the therapist and child interact with each other and how speech modelling and feedback influence the child’s speech productions. The findings will develop the way SLTs do therapy with young children born with cleft palate.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0196
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion