[Tactile-kinesthetic responsiveness in children with cleft lip palate].

BACKGROUND

Literature provides ample evidence that tactile-kinesthetic responsiveness is of basic importance for a normal speech development. The purpose of this study was to examine tactile-kinesthetic functions in children with cleft lip palate as they are suspected to be at risk to develop disturbances in this respect because of their anatomic defect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tactile-kinesthetic responsiveness was measured using the specific DEF-TK questionnaire as previously proposed by Kiese-Himmel. Twenty-seven children aged 1;3 to 7;11 years with cleft lip palate were examined. Forty-two children with an isolated speech development disorder served as age matched controls.

RESULTS

The results of both the study and the control group did not differ on a statistically significant level (p > 0.05). Compared to the data taken from the test manual both groups exhibited a significant number of questionnaires which could not be analyzed because of too many unobservable (not missing!) items, yet, this number did not differ between the two groups. So a "best case" and a "worst case" were calculated but did not reveal significant differences either.

CONCLUSION

Surprisingly and in contrast to the results reported in the literature the DEF-TK questionnaire exhibited methodical shortcomings with a significant number of cases in which it could not be analyzed due to too many unobservable items. So, the results obtained can only be discussed under reserve: They indicate that children with cleft lip palate do not exhibit more tactile-kinesthetic problems than children with an isolated speech development disorder and thus do not require specific therapy in this field.