Development outcomes of Thai children with cleft lip/palate at 5-years-old.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the development outcomes among Thai children with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) treated at the Tawanchai Center 5 years after birth.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Using a developmental screening test, Thai children with CLP were followed-up at the center.

RESULTS

Nearly two-thirds (62.5%) of 24 Thai children with CLP had delayed development. Eight of the children had more than one delayed category and 13 both "delayed" and "caution". Delayed language, personal, social and fine motor skills occurred in 54.2%, 20.8% (5/24) and 20.8% (5/24) of cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

An understanding of the incidence of the different types of delays will help our center to improve our treatment standards and place more emphasis on psychosocial and development outcomes.