Cleft lip and palate-it’s not just about the beauty
A cleft lip is a birth defect that affects newborn babies around the world every year. About one in 1,000 babies are born with cleft lip/palate, a situation that can create many problems and possible complications that people don’t know about.
Rather than treat the condition with the seriousness it deserves, some are quick to disregard it as a cosmetic problem that one can live with. A cleft lip is a split in the upper lip while a cleft palate is a split in the roof of the mouth, which leaves a hole between the nose and the mouth. It is possible for a cleft lip and cleft palate to occur together in the same person. This could be a serious medical condition depending on the severity of the cleft. The good news is that advances in medical treatment have made it possible to correct this defect earlier on life.
The exact cause of clefts is not known, but research points to three probable factors:
» An inherited characteristic (gene) from one or both parents,
» Environment (poor early pregnancy health or exposure to drugs such as alcohol),
» Genetic syndromes or abnormality.
5 cleft complications
Breathing
A malformed palate and jaw makes breathing difficult. Treatment includes surgery and oral appliances.
Feeding
Children especially infants, with clefts commonly have feeding problems as they lack a complete palate which prevents food and liquids from going up your nose. It is advisable to consult a nutritionist and speech therapist, to help your child swallow food. Special feeding devices are also available.
Ear infections and hearing loss
A defect in the upper airway can affect the functionality of the Eustachian tube and increase the possibility of persistent fluid in the middle ear. This is primarily the cause of repeated ear infections, which can cause hearing loss. Tubes can be inserted in the ear by an otolaryngologist (Ear nose and throat specialist) to alleviate fluid build-up and restore hearing.
Speech and language delays
Cleft defects may interfere with the ability of a child to form sounds properly and speak clearly. Speech therapy helps with language development while cleft surgery is used to repair the damage.
Dental problems
A cleft may involve the gums and jaw, which could affect the proper growth of teeth and alignment of the jaw.
The child may have small teeth, missing teeth, extra teeth or crooked teeth.
Treatment
» A paediatric dentist or orthodontist (dental and facial irregularities specialist) can assist with this problem and may give braces to ensure the teeth grow as they should.
» A cleft lip is usually repaired by the time a baby is 3 to 6 months old. During surgery, the doctor closes the gap in the lip and corrects the nostril.
» A cleft palate is usually repaired at age 9 to 12 months. During this surgery, doctors close the hole between the roof of the mouth and the nose and reconnect the muscles in the soft palate.
» Once the surgery has been done, a child should get regular hearing tests to check for hearing problems caused by fluid building up in the ears. Some kids may also need speech therapy when they start talking.
Living with it
Many times, a person who had a cleft lip repaired as an infant has a scar on the lip under the nose. Some kids with severe cleft lip or cleft palate have a flattened nose or small jaw while others with just a cleft palate may look no different from everyone else. If your child has a cleft lip or palate, though there may be nothing much you can do about their appearance, it is important that you support them all through.
Their friends at school may tease or even bully them, but remind them that they are beautiful and special no matter how they look. The good news is that most kids with cleft lips or cleft palates grow up to be healthy, happy adults!
END: BL35/16