What are the areas of professional practice that capture my interest? With respect to this general topic, what would an essential question for me be? What do I already know about this topic? What don’t I know about this topic?

I feel that my Jr. status sort of puts me in a rough spot. This is the semester that I will be learning about Language disorders vs Phonological Disorders vs Articulation Disorders vs Voice and Fluency Disorders. It’s only the third week and we haven’t really begun to touch on specific disorders in any of the above classes. I do know that I am intrigued by the whole concept of cleft palate. I went to school with two brothers who both had, what I believe to be, cleft lip and cleft palate. I have watched a medical program about cleft palate repair and was captivated by the whole process. I know that it may not interest some people because sometimes a cleft palate/lip person may be conceived as grotesque looking. The brothers I attended school with were not the prettiest sites but I always felt a gnawing inside of me to reach out to them. They were very poor and did not have very well educated parents. They did have the most school spirit though. They were often either made fun of or treated as if they were mentally challenged because they were physically challenged.

My essential question: What are the requirements for surgery on a cleft palate/lip patient and will a government medical card cover the expense of surgery and/or therapy?

**10/19/02: Revised after alot of thought: What do parents need to know when they have a child born with cleft lip/palate?

As I have stated earlier, I do not know that much about cleft palate/lip other than it is a birth defect where the palate/lip does not properly fuse together in the womb. I know it causes a great deal of trouble in swallowing, breathing, and speaking due to the palate/lip being open and unable to shut. I know that surgery can be done to repair the problem (I am not sure if every case can be helped surgically.) I do not know anything about medical coverage. Though I am sure the boys received Speech Therapy at school I often wonder why nothing else was done to help them.