Perception of Appearance and Social Acceptance Between Cleft and Non-Cleft Children in Early Adolescence

Background: Using three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging, this study aims to understand the differences in perception between schoolchildren with and without cleft lip and palate (CLP), as well as to explore peer awareness and acceptance of children with craniofacial abnormalities post-surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized three-dimensional surface images of early adolescent patients with CLP post-repair and without CLP for examination by schoolchildren (with CLP and without). Both groups assessed the images and responded to a questionnaire eliciting perceptions of facial appearance and social acceptance of children with craniofacial abnormalities, rating each question on a Likert scale of one to five. The results were presented using bar graphs, and the Item Response Theory-Graded Response Model was employed to estimate the latent ability (θ) of each participant. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with Cronbach's alpha test.