2000 Edition Special Populations Craniofacial Syndromes and Communication Disorders Craniofacial anomalies are anatomical deviations that can affect the oral and facial structures, the cranium, or both. This Communication Facts addresses select craniofacial syndromes that speech-language pathologists and audiologists may encounter in their clinical practice.
Orofacial clefts are one of the most common congenital anomalies.
The majority of oral-facial clefts are of multifactorial origin resulting from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Babbling patterns of children with cleft palate reveal delay and differences from the normal pattern of development. Upper airway obstruction is a frequent complication. Apert syndrome may be inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic trait, or it may occur as a result of a mutation of the egg or sperm from which the child was conceived. This syndrome is associated with malformations of the brain.