Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Conditions: A Comprehensive Guide to Clinical Management

Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Conditions: A Comprehensive Guide to Clinical Management, Fifth Edition continues to set the standard as the most comprehensive and clinically relevant text on the subject. Written by renowned clinician, educator, and researcher Ann W. Kummer, this extensively updated edition combines foundational science with practical, evidence-based clinical application for the assessment and management of cleft palate, craniofacial conditions, and velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Designed for graduate-level instruction and interdisciplinary clinical practice, the Fifth Edition provides a clear, sequential approach that helps readers build knowledge from anatomy and genetics through assessment, treatment, and team-based care. Richly illustrated and supported by hundreds of clinical photographs, diagnostic images, and online videos, this trusted text bridges the gap between theory and real-world clinical decision making.

Drawing on decades of clinical and teaching experience, Dr. Kummer presents not only the “what” and “why” of craniofacial management, but also the critical “how” clinicians need for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment planning, and successful intervention. Comprehensive yet highly practical, this text remains an essential resource for graduate students, speech-language pathologists, craniofacial team members, and other healthcare professionals who work with individuals affected by clefts and craniofacial conditions.

New to the Fifth Edition

• Expanded coverage of speech, resonance, and velopharyngeal dysfunction, including additional clinical strategies for both assessment and treatment
• Updated chapters on genetics, craniofacial syndromes, developmental and psychosocial considerations, and surgical management, with contributions from experts across multiple craniofacial disciplines
• Additional evidence-based speech therapy strategies and practical guidance for achieving carryover through the use of motor learning and motor memory principles
• Revised organization, streamlined presentation, and the addition of many summary tables for improved readability, clarity, and comprehension
• New clinical photographs, illustrations, and diagnostic examples throughout the text
• Enhanced online learning resources and video content to support both classroom instruction and independent study

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage of cleft palate, craniofacial anomalies, resonance disorders, and velopharyngeal dysfunction across the lifespan
• More than 700 full-color photographs, illustrations, tables, and diagnostic images that enhance understanding of complex concepts
• Nearly 300 online clinical videos demonstrating speech disorders, instrumental evaluations, surgical outcomes, and therapy techniques
• Extensive glossary of terms
• Practical “how-to” guidance for speech assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention
• Chapter outlines, case studies, “Speech Notes,” discussion questions, and “Cleft Notes” worksheets that enhance learning and reinforce clinical reasoning 

PluralPlus Online Ancillaries

For instructors: PowerPoint Slides, Image Bank, Test Bank, Videos, “Cleft Notes”
For students: Videos, Forms/Documents, “Cleft Notes”