Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that happen when a baby's lip or mouth doesn't form properly early in pregnancy. A baby can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both.
Two kinds of cleft
| What happens | What it looks like | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleft lip | the tissue of the lip doesn't fully join before birth | an opening in the upper lip — from a small slit to a large gap reaching into the nose; on one or both sides, or rarely in the middle |
| Cleft palate | the tissue of the palate — the roof of the mouth — doesn't join correctly | the front and back of the palate may both be open, or just one part |
Children with a cleft lip may also have a cleft palate.
Problems they can cause
- trouble feeding
- trouble talking
- ear infections and hearing loss
- problems with the teeth
Treatment
Surgery can often close the lip and palate:
| Surgery | Usually done |
|---|---|
| Cleft lip | before 12 months |
| Cleft palate | before 18 months |
Many children have other complications and may need more surgery, dental and orthodontic care and speech therapy as they grow.
With treatment, most children with clefts do well and lead healthy lives.
Sources
Based on "Cleft Lip and Palate," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, with a summary from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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