This is a preliminary study of 37 infants with deformational plagiocephaly. In this first effort to create a profile of factors that may contribute to the onset and progress of developmental plagiocephaly, parents were interviewed concerning selected practices before and immediately after the birth of their infants. Results of the study do not reveal a clear or concise pattern of factors that may contribute to this condition. There needs to be additional research on the benefits and potential hazards of sleep position to infants as one of the factors that may contribute to deformational plagiocephaly.

With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), increasing numbers of interpreters for the deaf are being employed in education, industry, or other settings. Professional interpreters are at risk for developing cumulative trauma disorders due to the nature of their work which involves rapid repetitive movements of the arms and hands. One hundred forty-five interpreters for the deaf responded to a survey questionnaire designed to identify their work experiences and development of physical pain/discomfort related to work. Incidence and duration of pain/discomfort is positively correlated with hours worked and time of onset. Regardless of age, training, or work experience, 119 (82%) of these respondents experienced disabling pain/discomfort during and following work. Thirty-nine (33%) of the 119 respondents indicated onset of pain or discomfort in the wrist and hand. These data suggest that interpreting for the deaf may result in debilitating pain/discomfort in hands, arms, shoulders, and back if the interpreter is not appropriately prepared to compensate for physical and attentional stresses. Implications include the need to provide periods of rest while working and to provide training for students learning to interpret for the deaf to minimize physical stress while working.

Families exert a powerful influence upon their members and can be a significant resource in cleft palate treatment. The purposes of this study were to gather information about (1) the characteristics and attitudes of families whose children are treated for cleft palate; (2) the extent to which parents participate in decisions about treatment; and (3) parents' ideas about their participation. A 32-item survey questionnaire was distributed to 75 parents in Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Forty-two survey forms (56%) were completed and returned for analysis. The majority of parents (57%) were satisfied with their present involvement in team treatment services; however, 36% wished for more involvement, and 7% wished for less involvement.

Questionnaire data about services and practices of cleft palate-craniofacial teams were obtained from 63 teams in 35 states. Findings indicate the following: (1) research was the least frequently conducted activity, although 73 percent of the teams indicated that they conducted research; and (2) the majority of those responding regarded cinefluoroscopy, endoscopy, perceptual assessment, oral examination, and videoendoscopy as important procedures, yet most patients (90%) seen by these teams did not receive instrumental assessment of velopharyngeal function.

Over the last decade, infants with deformities in the craniofacial skeleton have been seen at our craniofacial center, and similar observations have been noted in infants seen for evaluation and management after birth, where there are not any evident pathological findings such as craniosynostosis or another known genetic disorder. The known condition of deformational plagiocephaly has been related to a sequela of the infants being placed on their back for sleep. The change in the position of the infants to sleep on their back was altered from the traditional position, where infants were placed in the prone position for many decades in the past in the Western world. A special study was initiated to compile meaningful data to help those in the field pursue their treatment of affected children in a systematic and comprehensive manner. Avoidance of unnecessary surgery was essential in those children unless the deformational condition persisted and was not resolvable by nonsurgical means and change in the cultural habitat.

Persons with repaired congenital cleft lips and palates retain the distinguishing visible feature of a facial scar and may exhibit a speech difference of hypernasality. Rehabilitation of these individuals is long and costly between birth and eighteen years of age. However, the literature does not reflect programs which prepare these clients to succeed in employment interviews and in job acquisition. Neither is there evidence of efforts to inform employers of the potentials of persons who exhibit this handicap in facial appearance and in speech.This research was designed to investigate employer bias in judging an employee with a cleft lip and palate with and without a speech disorder. Twenty-six business and professional men rated observable characteristics of a videotaped adult male speaker in the two conditions. Results indicate that employers respond negatively to both the cleft lip and to the disorder. When the two elements were combined, the judgments were more negative. Judges suggested nonpublic occupations for which the speaker could be successfully employed.

Families exert a powerful influence upon their members and can be a significant resource in cleft palate treatment. The purposes of this study were to gather information about (1) the characteristics and attitudes of families whose children are treated for cleft palate; (2) the extent to which parents participate in decisions about treatment; and (3) parents' ideas about their participation. A 32-item survey questionnaire was distributed to 75 parents in Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Forty-two survey forms (56%) were completed and returned for analysis. The majority of parents (57%) were satisfied with their present involvement in team treatment services; however, 36% wished for more involvement, and 7% wished for less involvement.

This is a discussion of the impact of distraction osteogenesis on the major function of communication as noted in oral motor control for expressive language. Our experience has been primarily with preadolescent and adolescent patients of school age whose expressive language skills are undergoing continuing development.