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Cleft Lip/ Palate
Treatment: For most infants with cleft lip alone, the abnormality can be repaired within the first several months of life (usually when the baby is 10 to 12 pounds). This will be decided by a child's surgeon. The goal of this surgery is to fix the separation of the lip. Sometimes, a second operation is needed. Cleft palate repairs are usually done between the ages of 6 to 18 months. This is a more complicated surgery and is done when the baby is bigger and better able to tolerate the surgery. The exact timing of the surgery will be decided by your child's physician. The goal of this surgery is to fix the roof of the mouth so that your child can eat and learn to talk normally. Sometimes, a second operation is needed. The scar will gradually fade, but it will never completely disappear.
Symptoms: Feeding difficulties, feeding difficulties occur more with cleft palate abnormalities. The infant may be unable to suck properly because the roof of the mouth is not formed completely. Ear infections and hearing loss. Ear infections are often due to a dysfunction of the tube that connects the middle ear and the throat. Recurrent infections can then lead to hearing loss. Speech and language delay 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. dental problems As a result of the abnormalities, teeth may not erupt normally and orthodontic treatment is usually required.
What is cleft lip/ palate? Cleft lip and palate, are a type of clefting congenital (defects in or damage to a developing fetus) deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation (carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal). A cleft is a fissure or opening—a gap.
Testing for cleft lip/palate: Most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are discovered at birth, but they're increasingly being diagnosed by ultrasound before the baby is born.
Did you know that cleft lip is also known harelip?
Here is a child diagnosed with cleft lip. He has an unilateral cleft lip.
Cleft lip and/or cleft palate occurs in every 700 live human births in the United States each year. Clefts occur more frequently among Asians (about 1 in 400). Clefts are relatively less common among Africans and African Americans (about 1 in every 1500).
It is currently unknown precisely why some children are born with clefts, but there is evidence that genetics plays a role because the condition sometimes runs in families. Research has shown that people with certain genetic make ups could be as much as three times more likely to develop a cleft lip and palate. There is still much research needed to fully understand the genetic pattern that causes this condition.
Babies who are born with cleft lip have a gap or opening in the upper lip. A cleft lip can be either unilateral or bilateral. With a unilateral cleft lip, the gap is only on one side of the lip under either the left or right nostril and might extend into the nose. The noses of babies with unilateral cleft lip may look tilted and flat on one side. Babies born with a bilateral cleft lip have a gap on both sides of the lip, and they may have a deep split in the lip that extends into both nostrils. This may cause the nose to look broader and shorter than normal. In most cases, the cleft occurs only in the upper lip and doesn't affect the lower lip.
nibblesticks added this comment 2010-10-10 17:04:06-05:00
that's boring./sad and gross
nibblesticks added this comment 2010-10-10 17:04:06-05:00
that's boring./sad and gross