engleski

Features of feeding and speech and language development in a child with craniofacial anomalies (a case study)

Literature findings that speak in favor of progress in early detection of difficulties also inform about increase in number of feeding difficulties in children. Feeding problems often co-occur with craniofacial anomalies. Many traumatic experiences for the child and family relate to medical procedures and introduction to tube feeding and also with transfer to oral feeding. Besides feeding problems, craniofacial anomalies also influence speech and language status. The case study describes a girl with craniofacial malformations from the aspect of feeding and speech and language development from the age of 1 ; 4 to 3 ; 2 years. The girl went through numerous operation procedures due to cleft lip and palate. Gastrostomy tube was inserted in the age of 1 ; 3. The palate was implemented in the age of 1 ; 7. The child was twice enrolled in the tube weaning programme (University Hospital in Graz). After removing the tube, the progress in oral intake of food was slow. First speech and language (MCDI-Croatian version) and psychological assessment (Bayley Scales) was done in the age of 18 months. In the age of 3 ; 2 pholonological system and nasality were assessed. In the follow-up period, there was an improvement in the segment of receptive and expressive language but the slowest improvement was in the transition to oral feeding. Continuum to oral feeding couldn‘ t be accomplished due to complex interaction of the facts on the child, mother and a whole family. The need for focusing on a family as a whole and implementing a system of early intervention will be discussed.

gastrostomy tube; tube weaning; phonological system; language assessment

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