The word cleft means ‘split’ between two things, hence cleft lip means ‘split in the upper lip’ and cleft palate means ‘split in the roof of the mouth.’ One or 2 in every 700 to 800 babies is affected by a condition known as cleft lip or cleft palate.
At times, a baby can have both conditions together. Cleft palate and cleft lip together are more common in males. The good part is that children born with such conditions are otherwise healthy.
The 'sex of the baby' and 'race' can play a role in the development of these abnormalities. Clefts are most common among Asians and certain groups of American Indians than among Caucasians. They are less common in whites and least common in blacks. Boys are more often affected than girls.
What are the causes?
The reason behind the abnormalities cannot be known but sometimes a baby with cleft palate has many relatives with same abnormality, so heredity is important. At other time, cleft palate or lip could be an indication of some birth defects in other body parts too. Exposure to substances in the environment, called teratogens, may also be linked with clefts. We do not know what causes most clefts.
If one of my child has the cleft condition, will it happen again to my next child?
The chance is 5 percent that another baby will be born with a cleft. But if another child is born with a cleft, the incidence increases.
What can we do now?
No matter what, parents must be aware that cleft lip and cleft palate are not dangerous to your child. The best way to go about it is surgery but it must be done when the child is at right age, size and must be in good health to tolerate surgery.
Now-a-days doctors have made great advances in treating children with clefts and can do a lot to help your child lead a normal, healthy and a happy life.
Will my baby be able to feed properly?
If your baby has cleft palate than he/she may have more feeding difficulties as the baby would not be able to suck properly as the baby's top of mouth (palate)is not formed completely.
other complications:
Babies with cleft palate have more ear infections and hearing loss than normal infants. This may be caused by fluid in the middle ear. Thus, it is important that parents of cleft palate children must get their ears and hearing checked about once or twice a year. Generally they need very small special tubes placed in their eardrums to help them hear better.
The babies with clefts have more dental problems due to their abnormalities. They problems range from small teeth, missing teeth, extra teeth, or crooked teeth. And many times they need to get orthodontic treatment as teeth may not erupt normally.
Will my baby would be able to talk properly?
A child with cleft palate will take more time to learn to talk as compared to normal children but if the baby has only a cleft lip than there should not be any major problem in learning to talk.
Who are going to help my child?
Your child will be treated by a group of doctors including an oral surgeon, a plastic surgeon, a speech-language pathologist, an orthodontists and dentists; ear, nose and throat specialists (for ear problems), a geneticist, a social worker, a psychologist, an audiologist and other health care specialists.
What is the treatment for cleft lip?
Cleft lip require cosmetic surgery and normally a nose abnormality is associated with it. The doctors close the gaps between nose and lips. The clefts can be usually repaired by the time a baby is between three to 6 months old.
What is the treatment for cleft palate?
A cleft palate has to be repaired between six months and one year that is before the baby is ready to speak. During the surgery, doctor use nearby mouth tissue to cover the gap between the roof of the mouth and the nose. Just 1 in ten children with cleft palates will have speech difficulties after surgery.
Babies born with cleft palate are more susceptible to develop recurring ear infections and hence they need to go for regular check up to their ear, nose and throat surgeon.
Remember every child is different; some will need more surgeries than others while others require less. This all depends on the severity of their cleft and how the child heals after surgery is completed.
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