Early academic achievement in children with isolated clefts: a population-based study in England

The study used national data to examine differences in academic achievement between 5-year-old children with an isolated oral cleft and the general population. We also assessed differences in achievement by cleft type. The study analysed data linked between CRANE, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and the National Pupil Database (NPD). 2,802 children with a cleft and no additional anomalies were included. We found that, compared with the national average, 5-year-old children with an isolated oral cleft, especially those involving the palate, have significantly poorer academic achievement across all areas of learning. Our findings indicate that children with a cleft may benefit from extra academic support with starting school.

Full reference and link: K J Fitzsimons, L P Copley, Efrosini Setakis, Susan C Charman, S A Deacon, Lorraine Dearden, J H van der Meulen. Early academic achievement in children with isolated clefts: a population-based study in England. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2018;103:356-362.