What Is Cleft Palate ?

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 The roof of the mouth (palate) is formed between the sixth and ninth  weeks of pregnancy. 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. 

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. 

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 until later in life. 

 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,  or certain medications she uses during pregnancy. 

Important findings from research studies about  some factors that increase the chance of having a baby with an  orofacial cleft: 

•  Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft. 

• Smoking―Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with an orofacial cleft than women who do not smoke.

• Diabetes―Women with diabetes diagnosed before pregnancy have an  increased risk of having a child with a cleft lip with or without cleft  palate, compared to women who did not have diabetes.

• Use of certain medicines―Women who used certain medicines to treat  epilepsy, such as topiramate or valproic acid, during the first  trimester (the first 3 months) of pregnancy have an increased risk of  having a baby with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, compared to  women who didn’t take these medicines.

 Many institutions continues to study birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft  palate, and how to prevent them. If you are pregnant or thinking about  becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor about ways to increase your  chances of having a healthy baby. 

 Services and treatment for children with orofacial clefts can vary  depending on the severity of the cleft; the child’s age and needs; and  the presence of associated syndromes or other birth defects, or both.

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. Surgical repair can improve the look and appearance of a child’s  face and might also improve breathing, hearing, and speech and language  development. Children born with orofacial clefts might need other types  of treatments and services, such as special dental or orthodontic care  or speech therapy.

With treatment, most children with orofacial clefts do well and lead a  healthy life. Some children with orofacial clefts may have issues with  self-esteem if they are concerned with visible differences between  themselves and other children. Parent-to-parent support groups can prove  to be useful for families of babies with birth defects of the head and  face, such as orofacial clefts