Cleft Lip And Palate

The problem of cleft lip and palate is a birth defect and it is also named as Harlip. In the process of the growth of the fetus the left side, right side and the upper portion of the mouth [roof or palate] develop together. In rare case [one out of 800] these three components do not grow equally and results in the formation of cleft lip and cleft palate. When a child in born with the gap in the upper lip it is medically termed cleft lip and when there is the same discrepancy is observed in formation of the palate, it is called cleft palate.

As the development of lip and palate are two different process a child may born with discrepancy in cleft lip or only in cleft palate or with the variable discrepancy of the both the deformations.

A baby born with this defects need to be fed by special nipple irrespective of breast feeding or feeding by bottles.

The defect of cleft lip or cleft palate can be detected on birth only. Although there is chance by high resolution ultra sound this defect can be sorted in the mother’s womb; however, in course of pregnancy, the problem is hardly ever detected through the ultrasound tests.

The only option left to cure this problem is surgery and this kind of surgery is done in minor age depending on the condition/anomaly and on the opinion of the consulting surgeon. This course of surgery is termed as reconstructive surgery not a cosmetic one.

The hearing problem is a prevalent symptom of cleft palate and lip problem hence the hearing test is always done before deciding any surgery method for the baby.

If the surgery is required on the cleft lip it should be done onward 10-week age or with 10lb of weight of the child and in case of cleft palate, the best time for surgery is 8-10 month age of the child as well as when he starts to communicate by speech.

In any case if speech difficulty is still observed with the child in the post operative period, doctor may go for another surgery on the sub- mucous cleft palate, on the notion to impose better speech convenience for the child.