Communication and cognition profiles in parents of children with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to ascertain whether parents of children with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (P-CLP) perform differently than parents of children without CLP (P-control) on a nonword repetition (NWR) test. Given that children with CLP frequently demonstrate communication and cognitive difficulties, a link between NWR performance and group would lend support to a familial risk factor in nonsyndromic CLP. The NWR test, a well-documented assessment to identify language and cognitive impairment, was used, together with a parent questionnaire to gather demographic data and family history information on medical, communication, and/or cognitive difficulties for 260 parents. Group differences on NWR performance and family history of communication and cognition difficulties were not demonstrated. Also, no significant difference on NWR score was seen in the P-CLP group based on child's CLP type. Correlation analysis showed that having more years of schooling, English as the dominant language, living in private housing, and being in skilled occupations were positively correlated to NWR score. Controlling for these known background variables did not alter NWR performance between P-CLP and P-control, however, only years of schooling significantly and consistently predicted NWR performance. Having significantly fewer years of schooling in the P-CLP group could be suggestive of an increased risk of communication and cognitive difficulties these parents face, and the potential difficulties their children with CLP may encounter. These results may inform early and rigorous intervention strategies for children with CLP.

Keywords:

• Familial aggregation
• Cleft lip and palate
• Children
• Nonword repetition
• Family history
• Cognition
• Verbal memory
• Communication
• Singapore
• Parents

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the SingHealth Foundation Grant (SHF/FG350S/2007) in Singapore and funds from the Faculty Postgraduate Funding (2009–2010) and the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (2008, 2010) from The University of Sydney, Australia. We wish to thank all the parents who participated in this study. We would also like to thank Genevieve Ng, Karen Lee, Sara Da Silva Ramos, and Vincent Yeow for their assistance with various aspects of the study.