How Can a Cleft Palate Affect Hearing?

Posted on January 26, 2022

While a cleft lip alone doesn’t usually present a higher risk of long-term hearing loss when compared to children unaffected by a cleft deformity, individuals born with a cleft palate often face a number of unique challenges concerning their hearing and speech development. Hearing issues associated with a cleft palate can develop gradually and resolve on their own, only to arise again once more later in life. For this reason, it’s important to remain vigilant... Continue Reading

How Can I Improve a Speech Impediment Caused By a Cleft?

Posted on June 30, 2020

Speech problems caused by a cleft can be successfully treated with both surgical intervention and non-surgical therapies. A cleft lip and/or palate are among the most common congenital defects in the world, with as many as 1 in 1,600 babies in the U.S. born with a cleft. While this condition is often corrected as a child with cleft lip and palate repair, adults who previously had a facial cleft can face a number of difficulties... Continue Reading

How Long Does Recovery Take After Adult Cleft Lip Repair?

Posted on December 6, 2018

Today, there are many treatments and techniques that can provide adults with cleft lip and palate improvement in their appearance, comfort, and oral function. Some of these methods involve surgery while other treatments are minimally invasive. If surgery is used to correct or repair an adult cleft lip and/or palate, the recovery process is just as important as the operation. Everyone heals at their own rate, but generally speaking, recovery following adult cleft lip and... Continue Reading

Tips on Feeding a Child with a Cleft Lip and Palate

Posted on November 20, 2018

Babies with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate often experience difficulty feeding both by breast and by bottle. This is due to the fact that the cleft(s) makes it particularly hard to create a vacuum in the mouth, which is needed to induce suction. Our craniofacial plastic surgeon, Dr. Eric Payne, has provided some tips to help make this process easier and more successful: Children with a cleft lip alone can often... Continue Reading

Dental and Orthodontic Treatment for Children with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Posted on June 10, 2017

Most parents who have a child with a cleft lip and/or palate will ask what the surgeries for their child will entail without realizing that there is more to it than just the lip and palate. Children need to also have their dental health carefully taken care of while they grow up. Here is a timeline of what to expect based on your child’s age. Newborn to 1 year old Start Nasal-Alveolar Molding (NAM) within... Continue Reading