Supporting Children with Craniofacial Conditions
Speech Avenue - Pediatric Speech Pathology Clinic in Tustin, CA
Helping Your Child Find Their Voice—One Sound at a Time
Children born with craniofacial differences—such as cleft palate, jaw differences, or facial asymmetry—often face unique challenges when it comes to speech, feeding, and communication.
These differences can affect how sounds are produced, how air flows through the nose or mouth during speech, and how clearly a child can be understood. It’s not just about speaking—it’s about connecting with others, building confidence, and being heard.
As speech-language pathologists, we understand the emotional weight this can carry for families. But we also know how much is possible with the right support.
Understanding Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Conditions
Craniofacial conditions vary in how they affect each child, but some of the more common ones include:
- Cleft lip and palate: These occur during early development and may impact a child’s lips, upper jaw, and palate, leading to difficulties with speech, feeding, and sometimes hearing.
- Other craniofacial differences: These may include craniosynostosis, jaw growth differences, or congenital syndromes that affect the face, head, or neck.
Each child’s experience is different—and so is our approach to supporting them.
How Speech Therapy Helps
Our speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are often part of a collaborative team that includes surgeons, orthodontists, audiologists, and other specialists. Together, we evaluate and support children with craniofacial conditions throughout their development.
Within that team, the SLP’s role includes:
- Assessing speech and language development
- Identifying speech-related challenges unique to the child’s condition
- Creating a therapy plan that builds confidence and clarity
Our Treatment Focus
Speech therapy goals are always individualized, but may include:
- Helping your child produce clear, accurate speech sounds
- Encouraging strong oral pressure during speech
- Replacing sound errors with healthy speech patterns
- Addressing cleft-related compensatory strategies
- Supporting children with velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD)—a condition where the soft palate doesn’t close properly during speech, causing nasal-sounding speech
We use age-appropriate, engaging methods to help your child succeed, while making sure therapy feels safe, supportive, and positive.
Types of Therapy We Use
Depending on your child’s needs, we may incorporate:
- Articulation therapy: For practicing specific speech sounds
- Phonological therapy: To support overall sound system development
- Resonance therapy: For speech that sounds too nasal or not nasal enough
- VPD-focused therapy: To improve airflow control between the mouth and nose
We also support related areas like feeding, oral motor skills, and early language development, especially in younger children.
We’re here to support your child’s full journey—with care that’s integrated, compassionate, and deeply personalized.
Our Focus
Dedicated Approach to Early Support
Personalized Attention
Engaging Methods
Therapy Tools
Areas We Serve
We also offer help to parents from nearby areas of Tustin like:
- Irvine
- Santa Ana
- Orange
- Anaheim
- Costa Mesa
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Laguna Hills
- Mission Viejo
- Newport Beach
Take the First Step
Every child deserves the chance to be heard and understood. If your child is having a hard time communicating, we’re here to help them build confidence and skills that last a lifetime. Call Speech Avenue at (949) 414-5526 to schedule a consultation—we can’t wait to meet you both.
