Living With Disfigurement: Psychological Implications of Being Born With a Cleft Palate (Cedr)

The author argues that the current approach to cleft lip/palate highlights the visible and audible aspects of the cleft, often to the exclusion of the less detectable and insidious psychosocial aspects. Existing literature tends to focus upon what the Cleft Palate Team can 'do' for the patient, who is thereby encouraged to adopt a role of passive dependence upon the specialists. This book redresses the balance by presenting significant new findings from a follow-up study, which shows the need to re-think cleft-related 'treatment' in terms of whole person management. Only then can the patient be equipped with the necessary psychological 'survival' kit to live a fulfilling life, during and after hospital treatment. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the psychosocial welfare of those who look and/or sound different to others, in the context of facial disfigurement and speech impairment.