There are several difficulties that can arise if a cleft palate is left untreated. Some of them are listed below. Chronic dental problems, including misaligned or malformed teeth
What are the risks of surgery for cleft lip and palate?
Possible risks of surgery include bleeding, infection, poor healing, widening or elevation of scars, and temporary or permanent damage to nerves, blood vessels or other structures. Your doctor may recommend additional treatment for complications caused by cleft lip and cleft palate.
What is cleft lip and cleft palate treatment?
Cleft lip and cleft palate are splits, or separations, in the upper lip and mouth that occur while a baby develops in the womb. Treating cleft lip and cleft palate involves surgery and may include speech therapy and dental work. Before and after images of a young boy after surgeries to treat a unilateral cleft lip.
What happens if a baby has a cleft lip without palate?
For other babies, only part of the palate is open. Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and can have ear infections. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth.
What has changed in the last 40 years for cleft lip/palate?
In the last 40 years, great progress has been made toward a better understanding of many aspects of the cleft lip and palate defect, but there is still a long way to go before there is agreement on the optimal treatment procedures.
What happens if you don't treat cleft palate?
dental problems – a cleft lip and palate can mean a child's teeth do not develop correctly and they may be at a higher risk of tooth decay. speech problems – if a cleft palate is not repaired, it can lead to speech problems such as unclear or nasal-sounding speech when a child is older.
What are the negative consequences of having a cleft palate?
Babies with cleft palate are especially at risk of developing middle ear fluid and hearing loss. Dental problems. If the cleft extends through the upper gum, tooth development may be affected. Speech difficulties.
What is the most common complication of the child has cleft palate?
Feeding difficulties occur more with cleft palate abnormalities. The infant may be unable to suck properly because the roof of the mouth is not fully formed. Ear infections and hearing loss. Ear infections are often due to a dysfunction of the tube that connects the middle ear and the throat.
Is a cleft palate life threatening?
It is not a fatal problem. Most children born with clefts do well in developed countries. They may have difficulties with feeding initially, but with proper guidance, parents learn to feed their child with a cleft, and the child learns to compensate for the cleft during the first months after birth.
What are some of the problems that may result from cleft lip and cleft palate?
Babies and children with cleft lip or cleft palate may have: Dental problems. Ear infections and hearing problems. Feeding problems.
Which is a long term complication of cleft lip and palate?
Cleft palate alone was associated with elevated risks for death (hazard ratio, 3.4), intellectual disability (relative risk, 11.5), anxiety disorders (RR, 2.9), autism spectrum disorders (RR, 6.6), severe learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and musculoskeletal disorders, when compared with the unaffected ...
What syndrome is associated with cleft palate?
Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is the syndrome most commonly associated with a cleft palate, most usually cleft of the soft palate.
Does cleft lip and palate affect life expectancy?
The results of treatment for cleft lip and palate are usually excellent both aesthetically and functionally. Children born with these conditions have a good quality of life and a normal life expectancy.
Is cleft palate a disability?
FACT: A cleft is not a 'disability'. It may affect a child in ways that mean they need extra help, but most children with a cleft are not affected by any other condition and are capable of doing just as well at school as any other child.
What causes death from cleft palate?
The causes of death were mainly due to associated congenital anomalies (61%) and infection (17%). Conclusions: Children born with cleft palate have a 15-fold increase in mortality compared with the regional East of England infant mortality rate and at least a 10-fold increase when compared with other clefts.
How does cleft condition cause death?
Nine in 10 children with a cleft lip or palate can die without surgery according to Dr. William Magee. Magee founded Operation Smile to repair cleft lips and palates more than 35 years ago. "More people die from lack of access to surgery, than from malaria, AIDS and TB combined," Magee said.
When should a cleft palate be repaired?
Palate repair surgery is usually done when your baby is 6 to 12 months old. The gap in the roof of the mouth is closed and the muscles and the lining of the palate are rearranged. The wound is closed with dissolvable stitches. The operation usually takes about 2 hours and is done using a general anaesthetic.
What are the complications of cleft palate surgery?
Any surgery has potential complications. The repair of a cleft palate is no different. The major potential problems following surgery include: 1 Breathing difficulty due to swelling in the mouth 2 Bleeding 3 Early or late separation of the repaired palate 4 Infection 5 Scarring
What happens after a child's palate is fixed?
After the palate has been fixed, most children will immediately have an easier time swallowing food and liquids. But in about 1 out of every 5 children, a portion of the repair will split, causing a new hole to form between the nose and mouth.
What is the goal of a palate repair?
The major goals of surgery are to: Close the gap or hole between the roof of the mouth and the nose. Reconnect the muscles that make the palate work. Lengthen the repaired palate so it can function properly. Surgeons use many different techniques to accomplish these goals.
How is the success of speech surgery judged?
Because of the importance of the palate in producing normal speech, success of the surgery is judged by how well the child develops speech patterns afterwards. The child should be assessed at yearly intervals by a trained speech and language pathologist.
Can a cleft in the jaw grow in?
Teeth may not grow in properly or some may be missing altogether. Depending upon the severity of the cleft, some children will need orthodontic treatment to correctly line up their teeth, and some may need more surgery to replace the missing bone where the cleft splits the upper jaw bone.
Why can't my baby suck with a cleft lip?
The infant may be unable to suck properly because the roof of the mouth is not formed completely.
Can a recurrent infection cause hearing loss?
Recurrent infections can then lead to hearing loss. Due to the opening of the roof of the mouth and the lip, muscle function may be decreased, which can lead to a delay in speech or abnormal speech. Referral to a speech therapist should be discussed with your child's physician.
When does a baby have a cleft palate?
A cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open. For other babies, only part of the palate is open.
When is cleft lip surgery recommended?
Surgery to repair a cleft lip usually occurs in the first few months of life and is recommended within the first 12 months of life. Surgery to repair a cleft palate is recommended within the first 18 months of life or earlier if possible. 8 Many children will need additional surgical procedures as they get older.
Why do babies have cleft lips?
The causes of orofacial clefts among most infants are unknown. Some children have a cleft lip or cleft palate because of changes in their genes. Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, ...
What kind of treatment is needed for orofacial clefts?
Children born with orofacial clefts might need other types of treatments and services, such as special dental or orthodontic care or speech therapy. 4,8. With treatment, most children with orofacial clefts do well and lead a healthy life.
Can a child with a cleft lip have ear infections?
Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and can have ear infections. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth.
Can a cleft lip be on both sides?
The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose. A cleft lip can be on one or both sides of the lip or in the middle of the lip, which occurs very rarely. Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.
Can a cleft lip be diagnosed during pregnancy?
Diagnosis. Orofacial clefts, especially cleft lip with or without cleft palate, can be diagnosed during pregnancy by a routine ultrasound. They can also be diagnosed after the baby is born, especially cleft palate. However, sometimes certain types of cleft palate (for example, submucous cleft palate and bifid uvula) might not be diagnosed ...