Date of Award

Spring 1-1-2021

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Speech Language Pathology Degree

Department

Speech Pathology and Audiology

First Advisor

Cox, Violet

Second Advisor

Brigette Wilson

Third Advisor

Mary Milidonis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the psychosocial effects of orofacial anomalies such as cleft of the lip and or cleft of the palate on affected individuals. Five case studies were conducted on individuals of African American and Caucasian ethnicities within the age ranges of 12-17 and 18-35. An online survey was disseminated to each individual. All five participants’ responses were analyzed within the domains of socialization, emotionality, family relations, self-perception, and work-relations. Those who were younger (under the age of 18) appeared to have more challenges in the socialization domain. Those under the age of 25 reported more emotional challenges than the older individuals with a cleft. Work-relation challenges appeared to have minor effects during the teenage years but spiked during the 18-25 age range. Caucasian participants reported more challenges in the domains of socialization, emotionality, and family relations compared to the African American participants. However, African Americans reported more work-relations challenges.

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