Description
Cleft lip and palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and the roof of the mouth.
Symptoms
A child may have one or more birth defects. A cleft lip may be just a small notch in the lip. It may also be a complete split in the lip that goes all the way to the base of the nose. A cleft palate can be on one or both sides of the roof of the mouth. It may go the full length of the palate.
Other symptoms include:
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Change in nose shape (how much the shape changes varies)
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Poorly aligned teeth
Problems that may be present because of a cleft lip or palate are:
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Failure to gain weight
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Feeding problems
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Flow of milk through nasal passages during feeding
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Poor growth
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Repeated ear infections
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Speech difficulties
What you can expect from therapy
Surgery to close the cleft lip is often done when the child is between 6 weeks and 9 months old. Surgery may be needed later in life if the problem has a big effect on the nose area.
See also: Cleft lip and palate repair
A cleft palate is usually closed within the first year of life so that the child's speech develops normally. Sometimes a prosthetic device is temporarily used to close the palate so the baby can feed and grow until surgery can be done. Continued follow-up may be needed with speech therapists and orthodontists.