Cleft Lip and Palate: Evaluation and Treatment of Speech and Resonance Disorders for the SLP ecourse
Children with cleft lip and palate present with a variety of speech, language, and resonance disorders. As a speech language pathologist in the school setting, it is highly likely you will encounter a child with a cleft lip and/or palate and be involved in their care. During this introductory course, we will review anatomy and physiology of speech mechanism and the impacts a cleft lip and palate has on speech and resonance. We will discuss evaluation and treatment for articulation disorders related to cleft lip and palate and highlight specific therapy techniques which can be used for children with compensatory speech errors. Videos will be incorporated for illustration and case study examples.Course Requirements:
- Computer with internet and working speakers/sound are required for this course.
- Course must be completed within 30 days of activation (activate course within 6 months of purchase).
- An online multiple-choice quiz (80% passing score) and submission of an online evaluation form are required for successful completion.
- A certificate of completion will be available to print immediately after course is successfully completed.
- SLPs - ASHA CEUs may be obtained by completing the online ASHA form and checking the "Report to ASHA" box.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Discuss normal velopharyngeal function and causes of velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Identify speech errors associated with cleft palate and velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Demonstrate appropriate methods for perceptual assessment of articulation and resonance
- Apply appropriate speech therapy techniques for articulation errors
- Determine the need for speech therapy vs. referral for surgical intervention
Course Instructor(s)
Caitlin Lentz
M.S. CCC-SLP
Is a Speech Language Pathologist at Children’s Health in Dallas, Texas.She started working there after graduate school in summer 2016. Caitlin attended the University of Texas at Dallas for her Master’s degree and the University of Arizona for her Bachelor’s degree. She is currently an outpatient speech and feeding therapist and a speech therapist on the Cleft and Craniofacial Team. Her clinical focus is Cleft and Craniofacial feeding, Cleft and Craniofacial speech and resonance, instrumental assessment of swallow conducting videofluoroscopic swallow studies, and speech imaging for resonance conducting speech videofluoroscopy and nasoendoscopy studies. Caitlin has presented at various conferences including the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association Annual Conference in 2018 and 2019 and the Children’s Feeding Symposium in 2019 and 2021. She is a contributing member to a research article titled, “Improving the Accuracy of Automated Cleft Speech Evaluation” by James Seaward in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 2018.
Financial Disclosure: Caitlin receives honoraria from CIAO Seminars for the presentation of this course.
Non-Financial Disclosure: None
Course Agenda
Contact hours pre-approved for:
- 2.5 Hours
- CIAO is an ASHA Approved Provider (0.25 ASHA CEUs) bubble sheet submission required
- As an IACET Accredited Provider, CIAO offers CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard
- CIAO is authorized by IACET to offer 2.5 CEUs for this program
Introductory Level
0.25 ASHA CEUs
CIAO is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). CIAO complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, CIAO is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.