Trusted Cleft Resources for SLPs and Families

Check out this list of cleft resources for SLPs and families – perfect timing for Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month this July.

I know both as a provider and a cleft-affected mom how frustrating it can be to feel lost and like you need to go find information to treat a cleft-affected child in speech therapy, and even as a parent navigating a new medical journey. There’s no shortage of general speech therapy resources, but cleft-specific ones can be harder to find, especially when you’re trying to sort the outdated from the evidence-based. I’ve spent years bookmarking, saving, and asking colleagues, “Wait, where did you find that?” so I wanted to put everything in one place.

Here are some favorite websites and resources to help guide you, whether you are a speech therapist or a caregiver to a cleft-affected child.

Cleft Resources for SLPs and SLPAs

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Join the ACPA provider community by becoming a member to access educational webinars, attend annual meetings, and read the latest research.

LEADERSProject

LEADERSProject offers evidence-based speech therapy materials that are free, easily accessible, and available in 15+ languages. You’ll find free video modules on cleft palate speech therapy, along with a full playlist on their website at www.leadersproject.org or on YouTube. Their full training course is also available on the LEADERSProject website, complete with handouts, slides, and notes, all free of charge. Beyond the training materials, you’ll find free resources for cleft palate speech therapy, including word games, cognate-paired books, and more.

Cleft Textbooks

• The Clinician’s Guide to Treating Cleft Palate Speech by Peterson-Falzone, Trost-Cardamone, Karnell, and Hardin-Jones (2nd ed.)
• Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies: Effects on Speech and Resonance by Ann Kummer (3rd ed.)
• Cleft Palate Speech and Resonance by Vallino, Ruscello, and Zajac (1st ed.)
• The Source for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Speech Disorders by Dr. Linda Vallino

Cleft Webinars and PD Courses

• English Cleft Palate Speech Therapy: Evaluation and Treatment by LeadersProject
• Birth to Three – Special Considerations for Speech Sound Disorders in Children with Cleft Palate &/or Velopharyngeal Dysfunction by Anne Bedwinek
• Understanding Cleft Lip and Palate by Ann W. Kummer
• Speech/Resonance Disorders and Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Part 1 by Ann W. Kummer
• Speech/Resonance Disorders and Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Part 2 by Ann W. Kummer
• Evaluation of Speech/Resonance Disorders Secondary to Velopharyngeal Dysfunction by Ann W. Kummer
• Treatment of Speech/Resonance Disorders Associated With Velopharyngeal Dysfunction by Ann W. Kummer
• Dr. Brown’s Feeding Educational Webinars
• Upcoming ACPA (American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association) Webinars
• MyFace Webinar: Early Speech & Language Development in Children with Cleft Lip/Palate (free)
• MyFace Webinars
• Assessment of Speech Sound Disorders in Children with Cleft Palate and/or VPD by Angela Dixon
• Advanced Pediatric Feeding Mentorship Group (APFMG): Cleft and Craniofacial Feeding Module
• Upcoming and Past ACPA Webinars (Usually only $25 for non-members)

Cleft Speech Guidebook

Due to my unique experience having a cleft-affected child, I created a comprehensive guide for evaluation and remediation of cleft palate speech. When my cleft-affected child was born, I couldn’t find easily accessible information online about cleft feeding, cleft speech, and so much more. Each stage of development brought new questions, and I began accumulating everything I discovered through my own research.

Over the course of five years, I slowly put together this guidebook of everything I learned. My hope is that when speech therapists get a cleft-affected child on their caseload, they are not lost and can feel confident in how to assess and treat cleft speech. I want to help educate SLPs and SLPAs, make their jobs easier when working with cleft-affected children, and make information more accessible for diagnosing and treating cleft speech.

Cleft Resources for Families

When my daughter was born in 2020, I felt suffocated by all the medical decisions and things to learn and navigate overnight. I spent countless hours reading online and troubleshooting various issues for her care and treatment. Here are some great cleft resources for caregivers.

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Use the directory to find an ACPA-approved team to care for your child. A multidisciplinary team means you’ll have access to the right specialists in one place, from surgeons to speech therapists to orthodontists, rather than piecing together care on your own. You can also access evidence-backed information for families, such as booklets and fact sheets covering everything from feeding to speech development.

Smile Train

Smile Train offers educational cleft resources to help families understand cleft conditions, feeding, surgery, speech development, hearing, dental care, and what to expect throughout treatment, making it a good first stop when you don’t even know what questions to ask yet. They also host CleftCon, an annual in-person and virtual conference where families and providers can learn from experts and connect with the broader cleft community. Beyond education, Smile Train provides surgeries and comprehensive care for children in many low- and middle-income countries, work that’s made a real difference for families who wouldn’t otherwise have access to cleft care.

myFace

myFace offers support groups where parents can connect with others who understand the unique stress of a cleft diagnosis, along with anti-bullying campaigns aimed at protecting kids as they grow older and navigate school. Their parent guides and educational webinars cover a range of cleft resource topics, so whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into your journey, there’s likely something relevant to where you are.

The Blue Disc Project

Feeding a baby with a cleft palate often requires specialty valves and bottles that aren’t sold at your average store. The Blue Disc Project connects you with the blue discs that are part of the Dr. Brown’s specialty feeding bottles. It can be stressful to make sure you have enough, so this organization redistributes them to families and hospitals in need!

Blog Posts

• How to Help Speech Development Before Palate Repair
• Cleft Speech Treatment Timeline
• Children’s Books About Cleft Lip and Palate
• Ways to Help Language Development

---

Know of other great cleft resources or an account we missed (even your own)? Comment below!

You may also be interested in:

• Cleft Lip and Palate Topic Page