Cleft palate and cleft lip

• feeding slowly
• taking in too much air while feeding
• bringing milk up through the nose

Speech Some children with cleft palate have difficulties when they begin talking, as air can escape down their noses when they make certain sounds. The palate is a working muscle that goes up and down when we speak, controlling how much air goes through the nose and the mouth. It’s a bit like the dryers in some public washrooms which can be positioned to blow hot air downwards to dry your hands, or upwards to dry your face. Most difficulties can be sorted out at an early stage with the help of a speech therapist.

Hearing Some children born with cleft palate can have temporary hearing problems. This is usually caused by excess fluid in the middle ear, known as ‘glue ear’, and can be treated.

Teeth If your baby has a cleft palate, it could be that there is not enough space for teeth to grow as he or she gets older. The orthodontist on the cleft team will keep a close eye on the growth of your child’s teeth, making sure that they are correctly positioned to bite as they should.

Parents are often distressed when they find out that their baby has a cleft lip or a cleft palate and find it helpful to speak to others who been through similar experiences. CLAPA – The Cleft Lip and Palate Association, has 40 groups across the country providing support for parents of children born with a cleft palate. You can get more information from their website CLAPA