Research+Product+1

Rough Draft- Project 1 Outline Format: Brochure Essential Question: Why cleft palate surgery is not just cosmetic surgery. Behind the Cleft: The Psychological effects of children with CLP and why we need to fix the cleft. Tentative thesis:  Although CLP surgery is important to fix the physical problems that accompany cleft palate and lips, surgery is equally important to relieve the psychological effects of having CLP. · What CLP is. Go into some of the physical issues. Then explain how the psychological and emotional issues go unnoticed. **__ Psychological and Emotional Issues __** ** External- caused by others ** · Family o Feeling unloved or unwanted § Mother may have difficulty connecting with the child after birth, leading to feelings of being undesired “The baby’s facial experience may interfere with early mother bonding which is thought to be an important determinant of personality and adjustment to adult life.” (Turner 408) § Parents are surprised and shocked when they have a cleft child, sometimes have a hard time dealing with it, which will affect the child negatively. (“The Cleft Palate Experience”) o Some parents tend to be overprotective when they have a cleft child, making the child more dependent and clinging to the family. (Turner 408) · Reactions from others o Bullying and Teasing § “Acceptance is often equated with physical and superficial qualities” (“Teasing and Reality” par. 4) Children with CLP are often seen as unattractive so naturally they would be bullying targets. § Children making fun of voice, looks, etc. “The speech defect which is associated with cleft palate is more likely to be a source of embarrassment and disparagement than defects of the face. In other words it is psychologically more damaging to have a funny voice than it is to have a funny face.” (Lansdown 449). o Education § Teachers assuming that children are incapable of the work. “The overall pattern was that teachers tended to underestimate the IQ of the brighter children with clefts. That can lead to some children having lower expectations of themselves because they pick up the teachers lower expectations.” (Lansdown 449) § Teachers assuming that they are trouble. “Teahcers have been shown to perceive good-looking children as generally being much better behaved than those with less attractive faces,” (Lansdown 448). o Behavioral § Acting out in class- looking for attention o A example of a boy with a cleft: Everyone loves him, he has a great temperament and is very popular. However, when he draws people all of them had masks on and when he goes out in public he walks with a hand just below his forehead to stop people from seeing him. ** Internal-develops on side and supported by others- “Children with cleft palates are always aware of being different.” (“Teasing and Reality” par. 4) ** ** “Children, adolescents and adults have reported that their self-confidence has been affected by having a CLP” (Hunt 280) ** o Physical attractiveness/ Body Image- think they are unattractive, feel bad about themselves § Many people associate beauty with goodness. (Clifford 111) § One study on people born with bilateral cleft lips and palates. “Good appearances go unnoticed, fair appearances were barely noticed and poor appearances attracted attention in a crowd or a street.” 18% were considered good/fair looking and the rest were considered poor. (Clifford 116) § “The reactions of others ultimately affects children’s self-concepts, because it provides feedback information about themselves. Many reactions of others are related to physical appearance, influencing the development of children’s body attitudes” (Clifford 109) o Self Concept § “Body attitudes are incorporated into the body image, a significant component of self concept.” (Clifford 109) o Control Issues- “Because cleft lip and palate are something a person is born with and has no control over it, it can seem unfair.” (Napoli par. 21) o Social- may have less friends ( Hunt 280), image problems also cause social anxiety (Hunt 281) o Anxiety- “Anxiety and depression have been reported to be twice as prevalent in adults with CLP compared with normal controls.” (Hunt 280) All these problems can potentially lead to depression and even more anxiety, leading to extreme psychological disorders.