Unoperated Oral Clefts at Maturation I. Study Design and General Considerations

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Abstract
Tentative conclusions were made on the biosocial effects of unoperated oral clefts from data on 124 Puerto Ricans age 15 to 57 years - 51 untreated cleft palates, 8 clefts of lip and alveolor ridge, 29 surgically repaired palates and 36 with normal palates. Unoperated cleft palate cases had developed well and followed normal facial growth patterns. Maxillary growth and development approached that of normal adults more closely than many repaired cases. Untreated cases reported no more respiratory illnesses than controls. Turbinates were consistently abnormally enlarged but eustachian tubes were usually patent and apparently functioning normally. All types of palatal clefts consistently omitted (k) and (g) sounds. Clefts of the soft palate had more nasalaty than complete clefts. Speech sounds produced by untreated cleft palate cases appeared superior to the speech sounds of patients with surgical closure of the cleft. Social and emotional problems, resulting from a speech disorder, a facial deformity, or both, develop early in life and continue to plague the individual.
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