Craniofacial Outcomes Research Laboratory
Head: Linda D. Vallino, Ph.D., MS, CCC-SLP/A, F-ASHA
Current projects
Studies conducted in CORL over the past year include a survey study of current clinical practice for imaging velopharyngeal function, work directed to incorporating an instrument for measuring vocal track airflow and aerodynamics into clinical practice, and continued collaboration with the Speech Research Laboratory on an NIH-funded study of children with articulation delays. The survey study was done jointly with Drs. Bunnell of Nemours and Judy Trost-Cardamone at the California State University – Northridge.Work with measures of vocal track pressure and airflow using the new PERCI-SARS instrumentation is advancing our ability to directly relate objective outcome measures to clinical practice. This information is continually used in making clinical decisions to provide quality health care for patients with resonance disorders. Additionally, Drs. Vallino and Napoli, Division of Plastic Surgery at Nemours, have just begun a collaboration with Dr. David Zajac on an NIH-funded project to explore the used of a novel and non-invasive procedure to determine the adequacy of velopharyngeal function in infants/toddlers after surgery to repair cleft palate.
Funded Projects
- Zajac D (PI), Vallino LD (co-investigator). Early Assessment of Velopharyngeal Function Following Palate Repair. Dates: 9/28/07 – 8/31/09. R21. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
This is a collaborative study with the University of North Carolina to explore the use of a novel and non-invasive assessment procedure to determine adequacy of velopharyngeal function in infants/toddlers soon after cleft palate surgery.
- Bunnell HT, Schanen NC, Vallino-Napoli LD (co-investigator). Phenotypes and familiality in speech disorders. National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health. 2005 – 2008.
The goal of this project is to examine the familiality of acoustical and anatomical measures in developmental phonological disorders.
Representative Publications and Presentations
Publications
- Vallino LD, Zuker R, Napoli JA. A study of speech, language, hearing, and dentition in children with cleft lip only. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal. 2008; 45:485-94.
- Vallino LD, Lass NJ, Bunnell HT, Pannbacker M. Academic and clinical training in cleft palate. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 2008; 45:371-380.
- Vallino LD, Peterson-Falzone SJ, Napoli JA. The syndromes of Treacher Collins and Nager. Advances in Speech-Language Pathology, 2006; 8:34-44.
- Vallino LD, Riley MM, Halliday JL. An epidemiological study of orofacial clefts with other birth defects in Victoria, Australia. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 2006; 43:571-576.
- Vallino-Napoli LD. Assessing communication in cleft and craniofacial disorders: a process model for the practitioner. Perspectives on Speech Science and Orofacial Disorders, 2004; 14 (2), 10-16.
- Vallino-Napoli LD and Reilly, S. Evidence-based health care: A survey of speech pathology practice. Advances in Speech-Language Pathology 2004; 6:107-112.
- Vallino-Napoli LD, Riley MM, Halliday JL. An epidemiologic study of isolated cleft lip, palate, or both in Victoria, Australia from 1983 to 2000. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal 2004; 41 (2): 185-194.
Presentations
- Vallino LD. Anatomy and Physiology of the Velopharyngeal Valving Mechanism and Team Care. Presented as part of the ASHA Division 5-ACPA Symposium entitled Assessing and treating speech and resonance in individuals with cleft palate: a practical guide for speech-language pathologists. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 2008.
- Trost-Cardamone, JE, Vallino LD, Videonasendoscopy and videofluoroscopy, one, the other, or both? Short Course. American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Annual Meeting, Broomfield, Colorado, April 2007.
- Grames, LM, Vallino-Napoli LD. Collaboration between the cleft team and community care providers. Workshop. Presented as part of the ASHA Division 5-ACPA Symposium entitled Assessing and treating speech and resonance in individuals with cleft palate: a practical guide for speech-language pathologists. Broomfield, Colorado, April 2007.
- Vallino LD, Lass NJ, Bunnell HT, Pannbacker M. Academic and Clinical Training in Cleft Palate. Poster. American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Miami, November 2006.
- Grames LM, Vallino-Napoli LD. Optimizing Patient Care in the Community: Collaboration Between the Cleft Team and Community Care Providers. Short Course. American Speech Language Hearing Association Convention, Miami, November 2006.
- Vallino LD, Lass NJ, Bunnell HT, Pannbacker M. Academic and Clinical Training in Cleft Palate. Poster. American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Annual Meeting, Vancouver BC, April 2006.
- Reilly S, Vallino-Napoli LD. The challenges in making speech pathology evidence based in managing cleft and craniofacial disorders. Short Course. American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Annual Meeting, Vancouver BC, April 2006.