Sing and Say: web-based language stimulation activities for children with craniofacial anomalies

Some children with craniofacial conditions have communication difficulties, cognitive impairment and problems with hearing and vision. This project from the Oxford Craniofacial Unit introduced the first ever language resource to take into account the unique needs of these children, who often have limited access to local speech and language therapy services.

Music therapists and speech and language therapists collaborated to build an interactive web-based app, ‘Sing and Say’, designed to offer a tailor-made language programme based on a child’s most recent language assessment. The app uses music, videos and language activities to equip parents with an intervention that can easily be used at home to stimulate language development.

Initial language assessments on 58 children with craniosynostosis aged between six months and two years from around the UK revealed that 17–26% (compared with 6.5% in the general population) had delays in at least one area of language development, reinforcing the high level of need for this type of intervention.

The app approval process took longer than anticipated and the project is still ongoing, with the final stage of feedback collection and evaluation of the impact of implementation actively underway.

However, initial feedback from parents, especially in response to a ‘Sing and Say’ video featuring children with craniosynostosis themselves, has been overwhelmingly positive. One of the most important lessons learned has been the value of using social media and pre-existing patient support groups to engage directly with families.

‘Sing and Say’ has now been incorporated into the standard care for children in the craniofacial unit, with national and international scale up and spread expected over the next year.

Contact information

For more information about this project, please contact Sarah Kilcoyne, Principal Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Oxford Craniofacial Unit.