Intelligence of Children with Repaired Cleft Palate: A Retrospective Chart Review Study

Cleft deformities have known detrimental effects on affected individuals, including physical, psychological, and intellectual in nature. The goal of this study was to examine intelligence amongst patients diagnosed with and treated for CL/P. A total of 115 medical charts of patients between ages 3 and 18 years old were screened and reviewed in this retrospective study for their TONI/PTONI scores. Intelligence scores were compared by gender, race, urban versus rural hometown, cleft type, and speech therapy (ST). The mean TONI/PTONI scores were higher in females, in patients who lived in urban areas, patients diagnosed with unilateral incomplete cleft, those who received ST, and those of Asian descent, though these differences were statistically insignificant. This data may provide useful information for prognosis of communication skills and their academic success and providing individualized care in patients with repaired cleft palate. Further research using a larger sample size is warranted in order to prove statistical significance and make an application to the broad population.

Keywords: Nonverbal Intelligence; Children with cleft palate