Supporting the Child with a Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip
The conditions of a cleft palate and cleft lip are congenital, meaning that a child is born with the problem. Some children have just one of the conditions; others have both a cleft palate and cleft lip. Because cleft palate and cleft lip are both medically and cosmetically unacceptable, cleft lip surgery and, in some cases, cleft palate surgery are required.
A child with cleft palate and cleft lip often have problems with feeding and don't grow well until they've had cleft palate and cleft lip surgery. This is because having a cleft palate and cleft lip make it difficult for the infant to suckle easily. Prior to cleft palate and cleft lip surgery, it's possible for the baby's formula to enter the child's nasal passages.
It's important to remember that cleft palate and cleft lip are not the same. A cleft palate involves a separation of the roof of the mouth. It is usually associated with a split or “cleft” in the lip, requiring cleft lip surgery to improve the child's appearance and speech.
Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip Can Be Corrected with Cleft Lip Surgery
Cleft palate and cleft lip, when found together, can be highly disfiguring. The child nearly always needs cleft palate and cleft lip surgery to close the cleft palate and cleft lip before the child begins to speak or has difficulty getting enough nutrition. In fact, prior to cleft lip surgery, the child with a cleft palate and cleft lip will often need to be fed with special feeding devices that close the palate while eating.
In some cases, the cleft palate is closed before the cleft lip. Surgery is a two-stage procedure that will improve the child's feeding immediately. Cleft lip surgery is done as a second procedure. Cleft palate and cleft lip surgery may each need to be revised if the outcome is not perfect the first time around.
A child with a cleft palate and cleft lip will generally be unaware that he or she is different until a long time after having cleft lip surgery. In fact, children with a cleft palate and cleft lip will look fairly normal and speak with ease after cleft lip surgery as long as the surgery outcome is good. The success rate of cleft lip surgery for children with cleft palate and cleft lip is extremely high. The children often have just a minimal scar. After cleft lip surgery, these children can often lead completely normal and healthy lives.