A Study of Phonological Difficulties in Children Born with Cleft Palate

Abstract

The study aimed to discover the phonological difficulties encountered by children born with a cleft palate. the researcher utilized the 'purposive sampling' technique to select participants, comprising two groups: normal children and those born with a cleft palate. The research instruments employed include a demographic information sheet, a word elicitation list, and categorized picture descriptions based on the articulation of vowel and consonant sounds. These tools were chosen for data collection and analysis, and a speech therapist conducted examinations to evaluate the difficulties faced by children with a cleft palate in articulating speech sounds. To identify potential issues with the toolkit, a pilot study was conducted, with participants giving their consent after receiving a clear explanation of the procedure, purpose, duration, and all ethical considerations. The study utilized the CV phonology framework proposed by Clements and Keyser (1983) to gather findings, including the substitution of consonants and vowels. This investigation into the phonological difficulties of children born with a cleft palate provides a detailed description of articulation challenges and the substitution process. The substitution process involved comparing the correct pronunciation of vowels and consonants in the Urdu language between normal children and those with a cleft palate. To gain insight into how cleft palate speech appears to them and the phonological representation difficulties faced by such children, two registered speech pathologists, experienced in cleft palate speech, were interviewed. The purpose of these interviews was also to understand the positive effects of speech therapy in improving the speech of children with a cleft palate. The study may also have clinical and educational implications.