Cleft Lip and Palate and Related Disorders: Issues for Future Research of High Priority (Observation)

Abstract

The Observation section of this issue contains two papers that take different approaches to the same topic, namely directions for future research. The first paper by Morris and Bardach is actually a summary of the proceedings of a large " State of the Art " meeting held last year in Iowa City. Having attended that meeting, I know that their task of compiling this manuscript was a formidable one and represents a distillation of over 120 separate opinions regarding where we, the readership, might best direct our efforts in the future. Mr. McComb's paper is a personal essay on his own perception of the direction future research should take, and it represents the remarks of someone with the benefit of a long and distinguished career. The reader will find that the underlying messages of these two papers are remarkably consistent. For this reason, they have been grouped together in this issue. a meeting entitled " State of the Art Conference: Multidisciplinary Management of Cleft Lip and Palate " was held in Iowa City. The major purpose of the conference was to review the available knowledge concerning management of unilateral cleft lip and palate from the perspectives of surgery, speech-language pathology, and orthodontics. The closing feature of the conference was the identification of issues for future research. Participants identified issues of high priority that were then discussed by the entire conference faculty. This paper reports the summary of that discussion and the recommendations of the Conference. KEY WORDS: cleft lip and palate, multidisciplinary management, prevention, maxillofacial growth, psychosocial, nasal airway obstruction, ve/opharyngeal insufficiency In 1987, from October 14 through October 17, a meeting was held in Iowa City entitled " State of the Art Conference: Multidisciplinary Management of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate. " The purpose of the conference was to review the available knowledge concerning the management of unilateral cleft lip and palate from the perspectives of surgery, speech—language pathology, and orthodontics. However, during the discussions, frequent reference was made to other cleft types and other craniofacial disorders. The role of other disciplines was also discussed. There were 121 participants from 20 states and 22 countries invited, based on major achievements and contributions to their disciplines .