Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome: Treatment of Communication Disorders

With an estimated human population prevalence of 1:2000, Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS) is the second-most common multiple anomaly syndrome in humans and almost all children with the syndrome have speech and language impairments that are generally recognized to be complex and difficult to treat. To demonstrate and to provide clinicians with expert guidance, the authors have produced a comprehensive two-volume set with a combination of text and video demonstrating the clinical features of Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS); the communication phenotype in VCFS; the natural history of speech and language in VCFS; diagnostic procedures necessary for assessing speech and language disorders in VCFS; the treatment of speech and language impairment in VCFS; and outcomes, demonstrated by video on an accompanying CD-ROM to Volume II. Volume II of this set opens with information of aspects of speech and language and the difficulties most often associated with VCFS. Authors also consider how these difficulties interact with each other. Chapter two describes the aspects of articulation and resonance, how they are best evaluated, and on surgical management. In Chapter three, general principles are outlined on how to make articulation therapy successful for children with cleft palate, VCFS, or both, many of which apply to language therapy and other behaviors, as well. The last chapter offers insights into prevention of the abnormal articulation patterns that tend to develop and how to guide children through stages of language development. The DVD includes all images from the book, along with 80 video clips that present normal and abnormal conditions and illustrate anomalies in VCFS through nasopharyngoscopy and videofluoroscopy examples.