Language Development in Cleft Palate Infants

구개파열 영유아의 언어발달 특성 연구

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the characteristics of receptive and expressive language development of cleft palate infants aged under 3. Twenty-six cleft palate infants and 52 normal infants were grouped into 3 chronological age groups with 1 year intervals: less than 1, 1, and 2 years old. The cleft palate infants were divided into 2 groups: cleft palate only, and cleft lip & palate. Each mother of the infants was asked to complete the questionnaire, Sequenced Language Scale for Infants (SELSI). Receptive and Expressive language scores of SELSI were computed. The scores of receptive and expressive language were respectively analyzed into 4 categories of language: phonology/prosody, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. The results, concerning the differences of language development between the cleft palate and the normal infants, were as follows: (1) expressive language scores were significantly different at age 2 between the cleft palate and the normal infants; (2) cleft plate groups aged less than 1 and 1 showed lower scores of phonology/prosody of expressive language than the normal groups; (3) cleft palate group aged 2 showed lower scores than the normal group in semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. The results, concerning the characteristics of language development between the cleft palate only and the cleft lip & palate infants, were as follows: (1) the scores of expressive and receptive language were not statistically different between the 2 groups; (2) both groups did not show any difference in .the scores of phonology/ prosody, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics of receptive and expressive language.