Comparing high and low intensity speech therapy for children with cleft palate
Official title: Short and Long Term Effect and Cost-utility of High Intensity vs. Low Intensity Speech Intervention in Children With Cleft Palate
Run by University Ghent · NCT06381713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether more frequent speech therapy sessions help Belgian Dutch-speaking children with cleft palate improve their speech and overall quality of life better than fewer sessions over a longer time.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 4 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 70 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Ghent Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ghent) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 26, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | January 13, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06381713 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are Belgian Dutch-speaking children aged 4 to 12 years with a cleft palate and at least one compensatory speech error.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with syndromic clefts, oronasal fistula, velopharyngeal insufficiency, hearing disabilities, or cognitive and related learning disabilities may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-utility of high intensity versus low intensity speech interventions in Belgian Dutch-speaking children with cleft palate. The study will involve a randomized controlled trial comparing two different speech therapy intensities: high intensity (5 sessions per week for 2 weeks) and low intensity (2 sessions per week for 20 weeks). The primary outcomes will focus on speech quality and overall health-related quality of life, assessed by trained speech-language pathologists. Additionally, the trial will analyze the cost-effectiveness of the interventions to support potential implementation in clinical practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved speech outcomes and quality of life for children with cleft palate, while also reducing therapy costs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results for high intensity speech interventions, but this specific comparison is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Belgian Dutch-speaking children with a cleft palate with or without a cleft lip * Aged between 4 and 12 years, * Presence of at least one compensatory speech error in their speech based on the perceptual assessment of one experienced speech-language pathologist Exclusion Criteria: * Children with syndromic clefts * Oronasal fistula * Velopharyngeal insufficiency * Hearing disabilities based on pure tone audiometry (\>25 dB HL) * Cognitive and/or related learning disabilities or neuromuscular disorders
Where it's running
-
University Hospital Ghent
Ghent, Belgium Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kristiane Van Lierde, PhD — University Ghent
- Study coordinator: Fien Allemeersch
- Email: Fien.Allemeersch@UGent.be
- Phone: +32474128135
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Perceptions of High and Low Intensity Speech Intervention in Children with a Cleft Palate
This study looks at how providers and children with cleft palate and their parents feel about high- versus low-intensity speech therapy to see which is more acceptable and helpful.
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High- vs Low-Intensity Speech Therapy for Children with Phonological Speech Sounds
This study tests whether a higher-frequency speech therapy approach helps children aged 4–12 with phonological speech sound disorders more than a lower-frequency approach.
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Comparing speech interventions for children with cleft palate
This study is trying to find out if high or low intensity speech therapy works better for children with cleft palate by talking to the kids, their caregivers, and speech therapists about their experiences.
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This project tries a suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block in children having cleft palate repair to see if they need less morphine and can go home sooner.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.