Plastic Surgery News and Events

2007 Cleft Speech Symposium

The 3rd Cleft Speech Symposium was held March 15-16, 2007. This multidisciplinary conference had 47 attendees (a new record!). The conference focused on speech issues relating directly and indirectly to cleft lip and palate. Our keynote speaker this year was Michael Karnell, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate professor from University of Iowa. He presented up-to-date speech and language evaluation and treatment techniques as well as his extensive experience with upper airway endoscopy in cleft individuals.

The conference targets all caregivers of children with cleft speech abnormalities, including in-school and private speech therapists, plastic surgeons, cleft team speech therapists, otolaryngologists, genetics specialists, primary care physicians and dentists.

The two-day symposium was comprehensive in nature, reviewing anatomic, functional and behavioral aspects of cleft care. For a complete itinerary of the talks presented, please see the attached PDF program.

Next year's conference is scheduled for March 13-14, 2008.

Dr. Michael Karnell (second from left) with Drs. Mount,
Rita Patel and Shannon Theis, receiving a photographic
book of Wisconsin landscapes and honorarium as a
“thank you” for outstanding service as Keynote Speaker.

UW-Madison Craniofacial/Cleft
Anomalies Clinic Team with Dr. Karnell.

Dr. Karnell reviewing pertinent palatal anatomy.

Dr. Diane Heatley explaining the importance
of tonsils and adenoids in speech.

Jennifer Ploch, MA, Audiology Specialist, is explaining
the crucial link between hearing and speech, noting
evaluation methods and risk stratification.

Lindsay Zetzsche, MS, Genetic Counselor Specialist
reviewed common and uncommon genetic disorders
associated with clefting and the appropriate
evaluations necessary for proper diagnosis.