Specialties & Conditions Cleft Palate Speech & Resonance Program
Cleft Palate Speech & Resonance Program
Lurie Children’s Pediatric Speech-Resonance Team is a multidisciplinary program specializing in the evaluation and treatment of children with resonance disorders. Resonance disorders are common in children with a diagnosis of cleft palate, 22q11 deletion syndrome and other craniofacial or neurological conditions. Children may also develop resonance disorders because they have learned to say certain sounds incorrectly.
Our team offers clinical speech-resonance evaluations to aid in the diagnosis, ongoing planning and treatment of resonance disorders. The speech-language pathologists on our speech-resonance team play an active part in the Cleft Lip and Palate Program, Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Program and 22q11 Deletion Syndrome Program.
Symptoms of resonance disorders may include:
- Hypernasal resonance: Voice sounds too “nasal”
- Hyponasal resonance: Voice sounds “stuffy”
- Air escaping through the nose during speech
- Compensatory misarticulation errors: Sounds such as grunt, growls or snorts during speech
- Poor overall speech intelligibility
What to Expect at an Evaluation
Evaluations include:
- An in-depth history
- Completion of a perceptual resonance evaluation
- Nasometry
- Formal speech assessment
- Screening and/or formal language assessment as appropriate
Evaluations typically last between one and two hours, and are conducted at the various locations listed below.
Results of the evaluation are provided to the family at the time of the appointment, and may include recommendations for initiation/continuation of speech-resonance therapy and/or referrals to other multidisciplinary programs, such as Cleft Lip/Palate Program or Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Program.
Therapy
Speech-resonance therapy is available following medical examination, completion of a speech-resonance evaluation and insurance approval. Children enrolled in speech-resonance therapy are generally seen on a weekly basis, with regular reassessments to determine progress and ongoing therapeutic needs. In addition to direct work with the speech-language pathologist, families are given activities to do at home to support improved speech and resonance.
Make an Appointment
To schedule an appointment, first obtain an order or referral from your primary care physician and then call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC) to schedule a resonance evaluation or visit our Appointments page for more information.
Contact Us
To learn more about speech-resonance services at Lurie Children’s, please call us at 312.227.6320 or e-mail us at speechdepartment@luriechildrens.org and ask to be connected with one of our speech-resonance specialists.
