Comparison of the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Effects on Life Outcomes-Parent Version with Perceptual and Instrumental Assessments

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between quality of life (QOL) as measured by the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Effects on Life Outcomes-Parent Version (VELO-P), the intelligibility in context scale (ICS), percent consonants correct (PCC), nasalance scores, and ratings from the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech-Augmented- Americleft Modification (CAPS-A-AM).

Design

Cross-sectional design.

Setting

Outpatient pediatric cleft-craniofacial clinic.

Participants

30 children, <8 years of age, diagnosed with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L) and their parents.

Main Outcome Measure

The VELO-P was administered to 30 parents of children with CP ± L as part of their child's annual cleft team evaluation. The VELO-P was then correlated with the ICS, CAPS-A-AM ratings, PCC, and nasalance scores. Ratings were completed by 3 speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Reliability was completed by 2 SLPs. Linear regression identified predictors of the Emotional Impact domain of the VELO-P.

Results

The ICS had a strong correlation with the VELO-P total score (r_s = 0.72, P < .001). As SLP ratings of speech acceptability decreased, there was an increase in the perceived QOL. The speech acceptability rating had a significant moderate correlation with the VELO-P total score (r_s = -0.48, P = .01), Speech Limitations domain (r_s = -0.46, P = .01), emotional impact (r_s = -0.41, P = .03), and the Caregiver Impact domain (r_s = -0.40, P = .04).

Conclusion

The correlations between VELO-P and ICS offer insight into how speech intelligibility impacts QOL, while the CAPS-A-AM ratings offer insight into the relationship between parent and SLP perceptions of speech. Future studies should expand samples and age ranges to further examine these correlations.