ABSTRACT
Normal speech requires intact oral, velar, pharyngeal and laryngeal anatomy. In addition, hearing, neurological pathways and social interaction are required for completion of development of adult speech patterns. Experience with cleft palate children illustrates the need for normal oropharyngeal anatomy at an early age for development of unimpaired speech patterns. The native language spoken appears to be unimportant; people of all nationalities will have impaired speech if cleft palate repair is performed late.
