Cleft Lip and Palate
What is Cleft Lip and Palate?
Cleft means ‘split’ or ‘separation’.
During early pregnancy, separate areas of the face develop
and then join together. If some parts do not join properly
the result is a cleft, the type and severity of which can
vary. Cleft lip and palate can occur separately or together.
A cleft lip (sometimes referred to as a harelip) can range
from a slight notch in the coloured part of the upper lip
to complete separation in one (unilateral) or both (bilateral)
sides of the lip, extending up and into the nose.
A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth has not
joined completely.
The back of the palate (towards the throat) is called the
soft palate and the front (towards the mouth) is called
the hard palate. If you feel the inside of your mouth with
your tongue, you will be able to notice the difference between
the soft and the hard palate. A cleft can affect the soft
palate, or both the soft and the hard palate.
Incidence
About 1 in 700 babies is born with a cleft in the UK (that’s
about 1,000 each year). The causes are not well understood,
though it can sometimes run in families.
Treatment
A cleft lip is usually surgically repaired within the first
6 months, and a cleft palate usually by the time a child
is a year old. Some further surgery and orthodontic work
may also take place when the child is older.
Babies born with clefts may need some extra help with feeding
(because it can be difficult for them to form the vacuum
necessary for sucking well).
As children get older, some speech therapy may also be
necessary.
Treatment is provided by a child’s Cleft Lip and
Palate Team. A Cleft Team is made up of all the professionals
involved in the care of a cleft child, working together
to ensure that the best treatment is given. A Cleft Team
will include surgeon, orthodontist, paediatrician, speech
and language therapist, specialist cleft nurse, amongst
others.
Information Courtesy of CLAPA:
CLAPA offers information and support to anyone affected
by cleft lip and/or cleft palate across the UK. This includes
children and adults born with the condition, parents of
cleft babies, health professionals and siblings, colleagues
and friends of someone born with the condition.
Third Floor,
235-237 Finchley Road,
London,
NW3 6LS
Tel: 020 7431 0033
Fax: 020 7431 8881
Email: info@clapa.com
For Further information visit the website:
www.clapa.com
