Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 4 to 12

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 typeInterventional
Ages4 Years to 12 Years
SexAll
Enrollment70 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity Ghent
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ghent)
StatusRecruiting
StartedNovember 26, 2024
Main results expectedDecember 2027
Study endsDecember 2027
Registry record updatedJanuary 13, 2025
Trial IDNCT06381713 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.