Cleft and Lip Palate
Cleft lip and cleft palates are common birth defects. Someone can be born with either a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. Clefts can vary in severity and affect both sides or just one side of the face. Clefts are basically “splits” in the lip or roof of the mouth (palate) that arise when tissues do not fuse correctly when a baby is forming.
Clefts can be seen in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Emanuel syndrome, Trisomy 22 and other chromosome disorders.
Sometimes a cleft palate can be seen in conjunction with other findings. Some of our members with Emanuel syndrome have a cleft palate as part of Pierre Robin Sequence. Pierre Robin sequence is characterized by a cleft palate, small jaw, and upper airway obstruction.
Cleft lip and palate is correctable with surgery. Clefting can sometimes result in complications related to feeding, hearing, development of teeth, speech.
Many of our members have had children born with either cleft lip or palate. You will likely be involved with different specialists who will help as your child grows, requires plastic surgery, support for dental care and bracing if the gumline was affected, and speech therapy.
Read more:
Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Support:
American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association
Book recommendation
Children With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Parents’ Guide to Early Speech-Language Development and Treatment 2015. by Ph.d Hardin-Jones, Mary A., Ph.d. Chapman, Kathy L., Nancy J. Ph.d. Scherer
Connect with other C22C parents for support!
