Craniofacial Center

Craniofacial Microsomia: Longitudinal Outcomes in Children Pre-Kindergarten (CLOCK) (9/2014-2019): National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research funded.

Purpose:

• To compare the neurobehavioral development of infants/toddlers with and without craniofacial microsomia (CFM)
• To examine longitudinal relations among facial asymmetry, facial movement and neurobehavioral outcomes among children with CFM
• To assess the impact among children with CFM of hearing loss on neurobehavioral outcomes both as an isolated variable and in the context of other risk factors
• This study is a multi-center (5), longitudinal, observational, case-control matched study.

Quality of Life for Children with Cleft (7/2010-9/2014): NIDCR funded

Purpose of the Study:

This study is a 5 year multicenter longitudinal study that will systematically investigate the impact of oral health and cleft lip/palate treatment on well-being among school-aged children seeking care for craniofacial conditions over time. The specific aims are:

1. to describe factors related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a sample of children evaluated for secondary repair of cleft conditions.
2. to examine the concordance between caregiver report and youth OHRQoL scores on the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) at baseline, one and two years post surgery and concordance of changes from baseline.
3. to examine the interrelationships among depression, anxiety, resilience and/or self-concept and self- and caregivers' reports of OHRQoL using the COHIP at baseline, one and two years post-surgery and to examine changes in these psychological factors after surgery.
4. to compare youth who do not have a surgical recommendation with those children who do have secondary cleft surgery (at baseline and one and two years later) to determine whether there are statistically significant differences and clinically meaningful changes in OHRQoL among children receiving specific surgical treatment for craniofacial conditions. Treatments will include: secondary palatal surgery, alveolar bone graft surgery, lip/nose revisions, and orthognathic surgery.