Effectiveness of early intervention on awareness and communication behaviors of mothers of toddlers with repaired cleft lip and palate

Objective: The present study is aimed to provide an insight on the causative factors on expressive language delay in toddlers with repaired cleft lip and palate (RCLP). Participants: The present study considered mothers of ten toddlers with RCLP with a mean age of 2.8 years who underwent surgery within 1.5 years. Method / Interventions: The mother-child dyads were enrolled for Early Language Intervention Program (ELIP). The mothers were assessed for the awareness about CLP through a questionnaire and home training was assessed through Mohite's Inventory. Speech and non-speech behaviors of the mothers were assessed using a check list based on an interactional video. These three measures were done before initiating speech and language therapy. Post-therapy measurement was done after 20 sessions. Main Outcome Measures - Pretest post-test design was used to compare the differences in measures for the pre-therapy and post-therapy conditions. Results: Mothers showed greater awareness regarding causes, assessment, treatment, associated problems and issues related to speech therapy in CLP post-orientation (p≤ 0.05). Results also indicated improved home-training abilities of parents on parameters such as language stimulation, physical environment, variety of stimulation and maternal attitude (p≤ 0.05). A statistically significant difference was also noted for speech and non-speech behaviors of the mother (p≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Extensive counseling and orientation helped mothers to gain effective knowledge about cleft lip and palate and focused stimulation approach enabled them to deliver the intervention reliably.