Parent-implemented Early Intervention Design for Improving Speech and Language Skills Among Mandarin-speaking Infants and Toddlers with Cleft Lip And/or Palate

Overview

Journal Front Public Health

Date 2025 Feb 4

PMID 39902395

Authors

Sha Lai

Li Lu

Zhongliang Zhou

Chi Shen

Binting Yang

Zhanping Ren

Siwei Ma

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) speech is a significant communication disorder with notable and enduring consequences. This study focused on developing an intervention mapping (IM)-based and parent-implemented early intervention to improve speech and language skills among infants and toddlers with CL/P in China.

Methods: An IM procedure was used to develop a parent-implemented early intervention. First, parent-child interaction problems affecting language development in infants and toddlers were identified through 132 questionnaires completed by parents of children with CL/P and 30 family videos of parent-child interactions. Second, according to the problem diagnosis, the logical model of parent-child interaction behavior change was constructed. Finally, the health outcomes were transformed into intervention goals at three levels (i.e., infants and toddlers with CL/P, parents and environment), and a set of early intervention programs were designed by integrating various intervention techniques.

Results: The diagnosis of parent-child interaction problems showed that 40.91% of parents and children often use electronic media together; in parent-child interaction, 41.67% of parents presented 'lack of waiting', 29.55% overcorrected pronunciation errors. Video analysis revealed issues in parent-child interaction, such as inadequate parental skills, ineffective interactions, and an unsuitable environment. A parent-implemented early intervention was developed, including the following specific steps: health education within the hospital, 9 days of an online reading program in WeChat groups, face-to-face standardized training workshops, and individualized video feedback therapy.

Conclusion: We have devised a parent-implemented early intervention to enhance speech and language abilities in Mandarin-speaking infants and toddlers with CL/P, overcoming the shortage of speech therapy services in China.

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