What structures does a cleft palate affect?

A cleft palate spans many degrees of severity and can include the soft palate, hard palate, and alveolus. Clefting disrupts the palatal sling secondary to abnormal insertions of the soft palate muscles into the posterior margin of the remaining bony palate rather than the midline raphe.

What are the complications of cleft lip and cleft palate?

Beyond the cosmetic abnormality, other possible complications that may be associated with cleft lip and cleft palate include:

• Feeding difficulties. Feeding difficulties occur more with cleft palate abnormalities.
• Ear infections and hearing loss.
• Speech and language delay.
• Dental problems.

  What race is cleft lip most common in?

  Although cleft lip with or without cleft palate can occur in any race, there is a higher incidence in people of Asian, Native American or Hispanic decent. There is a lower incidence in African-American individuals.

  How does a cleft lip and palate affect speech?

  

  Speech: Articulation (the ability to make speech sounds) is affected by abnormalities of lip, tongue or palatal movement; orthodontic treatment may also affect clarity. The cleft palate will cause air to escape from the mouth in to the nose during speech and will therefore give rise to nasal escape and hypernasality (a nasal tone).

  What makes a baby more likely to have a cleft lip?

  Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including: Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft. Exposure to certain substances during pregnancy.

  Can a cleft lip be unilateral or bilateral?

  In both unilateral and bilateral cleft lip, the majority of patients will have some involvement of the gums and palate.

  What are the symptoms of submucous cleft palate?

  Signs and symptoms of submucous cleft palate may include: Difficulty swallowing, with potential for liquids or foods to come out the nose A cleft lip and cleft palate are usually noticed at birth, and your doctor may start coordinating care at that time.

  Children with a cleft that affects their soft palate (the part towards the back of the throat) may have problems with speech that include sounding nasal. This is caused by the soft palate not being able to properly close off the mouth from the nose while speaking and therefore letting air escape through the nose.

  Are there any complications associated with cleft lip?

  Beyond the cosmetic abnormality, there are other possible complications that may be associated with cleft lip and cleft palate, including the following: Feeding difficulties occur more with cleft palate abnormalities.

  Are there any side effects of cleft palate surgery?

  Beyond the cosmetic abnormality, there are other possible complications that may be associated with cleft lip and cleft palate, including the following: 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.

  What’s the difference between a complete and incomplete cleft palate?

  Complete cleft palates involve the alveolus, the hard palate, and the soft palate or velum. Incomplete cleft palates may involve some or all of the soft palate, with or without part of the hard palate. The palatal cleft may also be either unilateral or bilateral. Like the lip, the palate involves multiple important structures.