RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether patients who underwent early palatoplasty have normal speech. METHODS: 19 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were enrolled in this study. At 6 months of age, we performed simultaneous lip, maxilla, and palate repair using presurgical orthodontics. Speech development was assessed by evaluating velopharyngeal function (VPF) and development of articulation for 10 years. RESULTS: No articulation disorders were observed after 4 years of age. Although palatalized articulation was evidently temporary in 3 cases before 4 years of age, all patients recovered without any speech training. Normal VPF rates were as follows: at 4 and 7 years of age 78.9% (n = 15), 10 years of age 73.7% (n = 4). 10 patients temporarily presented with mild VPI after 5 years of age although they had a normal VPF until 4 years of age. CONCLUSION: Early palatoplasty after narrowing the cleft palate using presurgical orthodontics is beneficial for development of articulation. The rate of normal VPF did not decrease over the years.