Joint Clinical Nutrition and Speech Pathology Clinics: A Highly Impactful Collaboration for Children With Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical focus article is to review the evidence to support a collaborative assessment between the registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and the speech-language pathologist (SLP) for children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Method/Results: We review recommended educational materials, interventions, timelines, and evaluation tools to be used in collaborative assessments. Frequently asked questions, resources, and case studies are provided to discuss application for clinical settings. Conclusions: The RDN and the SLP have unique expertise to offer children with CL/P at different stages of their nutrition and feeding skill development. Performing evaluations as a dyad allows RDNs and SLPs to combine their expertise for a more holistic and well-rounded approach to a child's feeding and growth, striving toward the ultimate goal of best practice that is patient- and family-centered.