[Speech and language after operation for labiopalatovelar cleft on 100 children, of whom 37 were more than 4 years old (author's transl)].

Operations for labiopalatovelar cleft have been conducted on 100 children, of whom 37 were under 4 years of age, at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Clermont-Ferrand, since 1970. According to the concept developed by Célesnik, refection of the soft palate is carried out at 18 months, without closure of the palate. The children were followed-up by a multidisciplinary team from birth to 6 years. Those children with labiopalatovelar clefts had normal speech and language after 6 years, without re-education in a quarter of them. Another quarter had slight nasal intonation but no articulation problems. Half of the children with a velar cleft only had normal speech and language not requiring re-education, after 6 years.