Case Study: Supporting Archie’s Speech Clarity After Cleft Palate Repair

Background

Archie was initially referred to the service in November 2024 due to concerns with his speech sound production. Archie was born with a cleft palate and has since had multiple operations to repair this, meaning he had a fully functioning palate at the beginning of his input with Chatterbug. When Archie was initially assessed by us his speech was difficult to understand, particularly without the context. This impacted his ability to successfully share his wants, needs and ideas with those around him, including his teachers and friends. 

How did Chatterbug help?

Archie has received a variety of input from Chatterbug, including assessment, direct therapy with the Speech and Language Therapist (SLT),  liaison with school staff and other professionals as well as a report sent to school staff and parents containing recommendations for them to implement to support his speech sound production. Archie’s report highlighted his strengths and areas of need so all adults working with him knew how to support him best. Archie received weekly therapy sessions in school with Chatterbug, focussing on supporting his speech sound development through articulation therapy. 

Archie’s therapist also liaised with two other SLTs that were involved in his care; one being a cleft specialist SLT who he saw for a therapy session every three weeks. Chatterbug worked collaboratively, ensuring we were all working towards the same goals. As Archie was receiving high quality care from Chatterbug, his sessions with the cleft specialist SLT were reduced and eventually stopped as he was receiving the relevant care from us in school.

Archie’s progress to date

Archie has achieved many of his speech targets through direct therapy with the SLT and his speech intelligibility has improved greatly, meaning he is more able to communicate his wants, needs and ideas with those around him. School staff have commented that his confidence has increased too,  as  he  is  much comfortable  with  putting  his  hand  up  to  answer  questions  in  the  classroom.

How can Chatterbug help you and your child?

Chatterbug’s evidence-based approach and commitment to early intervention have supported over 50,000 children in improving their communication skills. Our dedicated team of SLTs and CALS are here to provide the personalised support your child needs to thrive. Whether you’re seeking an initial assessment, regular therapy sessions, autism screening, or comprehensive reviews, Chatterbug offers a warm and effective pathway to enhance your child’s communication abilities. For more information on how Chatterbug can support your child, contact us here.

Phone: 0113 240 8510         Email:  [email protected]