When there is more than a cleft: Psychological adjustment when a cleft is associated with an additional condition

Feragen, Kristin Billaud; Stock, Nicola Marie; Rumsey, Nichola

Abstract

Background: In spite of studies reporting a relatively high frequency of additional conditions in children with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P), almost no research has focused on this clinically important subgroup. The objective of this study was to compare psychosocial adjustment in children with CL/P with and without an additional condition. Design: Cross-sectional data based on routine psychological assessments at age 10 years, with comparisons to national reference groups. Setting: Centralized treatment, Norway. Participants: Two hundred five children with CL/P (participation rate: 80.1%) from three consecutive birth cohorts. Outcome measures: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (self-report and parent report) and the Child Experience Questionnaire (self-report). Results: Eighty-one children (39.5%) were identified as having at least one condition in addition to the cleft. These children reported significantly more psychosocial difficulties than children with a cleft alone. Differences between specific conditions were minor. Children with a cleft alone (n = 124) reported mean scores that were comparable to those reported by the reference group. There were no differences in adjustment between children with a visible versus a non-visible cleft. Conclusions: The present study highlights the need for research to be conducted in children with CL/P who have additional conditions to provide better knowledge and clinical care for a potentially vulnerable subgroup of children and their parents. © Copyright 2014 American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.

Citation

Feragen, K. B., Stock, N. M., & Rumsey, N. (2014). When there is more than a cleft: Psychological adjustment when a cleft is associated with an additional condition. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 51(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1597/12-328

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Journal: Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
• Print ISSN: 1055-6656
• Electronic ISSN: 1545-1569
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1597/12-328
• Keywords: cleft lip and palate, adjustment, psychological, research, appearance, developmental delay, visible difference
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/822395
• Publisher URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1597/12-328
• Additional Information: Additional Information : © 2014. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications