Health Library Cleft PalateFrom Healthwise

What is cleft palate?

Cleft palate is a treatable birth defect in which the baby's roof of the mouth (palate) does not develop normally during pregnancy, leaving an opening (cleft) that may go through to the nasal cavity. Cleft palate may involve any part of the palate, including the front part of the roof of the mouth (hard palate) or the small tag of tissue that hangs down from the soft palate (uvula). It may also occur by itself or along with other birth defects of the face and skull, particularly cleft lip.

Cleft palate and cleft lip are the most common congenital defects of the head and neck.¹ Until treated surgically, cleft palate can interfere with feeding, speech development, and hearing.

See pictures of two different types of cleft palate and two types of cleft lip.

What causes cleft palate?

Cleft palate may be caused by genetic and environmental factors, although the exact relationships are not clearly understood. If you were born with a cleft palate, your children will have an increased risk for the defect.

A baby may be at higher risk for being born with cleft palate if during pregnancy the mother uses certain medicines, is exposed to radiation or infections, takes illegal drugs, smokes, or drinks alcohol.

What are the symptoms?

Some forms of cleft palate are obvious at birth because they produce distinctive facial deformities. But the way a newborn's face looks does not always indicate the seriousness of the condition. The most reliable indicator of severity is the location of the cleft. For example, a nonvisible small cleft in the soft palate may have greater long-term impact—because of its effect on speech—than a visible large cleft.

Babies with cleft palate generally have feeding problems because they are not able to suck and swallow normally.

How is cleft palate diagnosed?

Cleft palate is diagnosed by a physical exam shortly after birth.

Fetal ultrasound can sometimes detect cleft palate as early as 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, especially if it is severe and occurs along with a cleft lip. But fetal ultrasound is not reliable for this purpose.

How is it treated?

Treatment for cleft palate usually involves a team of doctors and other health professionals. A doctor or nurse can guide you on how to feed and care for your baby.

Surgery is done to correct the defect, usually when your child is between 12 months and 18 months of age. More than one procedure is often needed. Surgical corrections specifically for cleft palate usually are completed by your child's teen years.

Some children with cleft palate develop problems that require special treatment, such as speech and hearing difficulties, sinus and ear infections, or complications following surgery to correct cleft palate. Dental problems sometimes also occur, such as having extra, misshapen, or missing teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions

The symptoms of cleft palate vary depending on the location of the cleft and whether other facial defects are present. Babies born with cleft palate often have feeding difficulties, because the condition interferes with normal sucking and swallowing. If your baby also has cleft lip, it may be obvious at birth. Even if the defect does not affect facial appearance, it is usually easily seen inside the mouth.

The following table illustrates the common symptoms related to cleft location.

See a picture comparing a normal mouth and two types of cleft palate.

Children with cleft palate may also have large tonsils and adenoids. Most health professionals agree that these structures should not be removed. They may help children with cleft palate to speak more clearly by allowing higher pressure to build up in their mouths during speech.

Certain health and social problems, especially speech, hearing, and dental problems, are more common in children born with cleft palate.

Cleft palate is sometimes a symptom of another health condition, such as fetal alcohol syndrome. For this reason, it is important for children with cleft palate to be evaluated for other conditions beginning at birth, especially if other symptoms are present, such as other facial deformities or learning disabilities.

A diagnosis of cleft palate is based on a physical exam of the baby's mouth at birth. If your newborn is diagnosed with cleft palate, he or she will likely also be examined for other birth defects, such as a small jaw. Also, a cleft in the uvula can be mistaken for a cleft of the soft palate.

See a picture comparing a normal mouth and two types of cleft palate.

Although rare, cleft palate is sometimes a symptom of another health condition, such as fetal alcohol syndrome. For this reason, it is important for children to be evaluated for other conditions beginning at birth, especially if other symptoms are present, such as other facial deformities or learning disabilities.

Some children with cleft palate may need testing for complications, such as speech and hearing problems, throughout their lives.

Early detection

Fetal ultrasound can sometimes detect cleft palate as early as 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, especially if it is severe and occurs along with a cleft lip. But fetal ultrasound is not reliable for this purpose. For more information on this test, see the topic Fetal Ultrasound.

Cleft lip or cleft palate can be passed down through families (inherited). If you have a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate, you may benefit from genetic counseling. A genetic counselor can help you understand your chances of having a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate.

Sometimes an inherited disease or condition causes a number of defects including cleft palate. If you have had a fetal ultrasound that shows your fetus is likely to have cleft palate and other defects, you may decide to have genetic counseling along with amniocentesis or karyotype testing. These tests and genetic counseling can help you learn whether your fetus is likely to have a condition caused by chromosomes that aren't normal. Karyotype testing can also be done after your baby is born.

Surgery is the primary treatment for cleft palate. Sometimes multiple procedures are needed over several years to fully correct the defect. Additional treatments depend on the severity of cleft palate and whether other problems develop, such as speech or feeding problems. Some treatments, such as speech therapy, may continue into early adulthood.

Before surgery

Before surgery to correct a cleft palate, your baby may need treatment:

• For breathing difficulties. Some babies born with cleft palate have obstructed airways. Treatment depends on the severity of the problem. For example, some babies can be given oxygen through a tube in the nostrils. In rare cases, emergency measures are needed, such as a tracheostomy.
• For feeding difficulties. Babies with cleft palate usually have difficulty sucking and swallowing. A doctor or nurse can guide you on feeding techniques. Also, your baby will be closely monitored for signs of dehydration.
• To prepare the mouth for the surgery. Dental supports may be used immediately after birth or within the first 2 to 3 weeks of birth. These supports are made from plastic or metal molds (sometimes called a baby plate or obturator) to help reshape the tissues.

Surgical repair of cleft palate

Generally, surgery is performed between ages 12 months and 18 months to promote normal speech and language development.² Before age 6 months, surgical repair of cleft palate may cause problems with normal facial growth. In some situations, doctors may prefer to wait until the baby is 18 months of age, to avoid damaging the teeth buds or for other reasons related to your child's circumstances. Surgery to correct a cleft of the soft palate may be done earlier than surgery to correct a cleft of the hard palate. See a picture comparing a normal mouth and two types of cleft palate.

Additional surgeries may be needed as your baby grows and develops. The number and type of surgeries depend on how much of the palate is affected and other aspects of your baby's health, such as whether another facial defect or health condition is present. For example:

• A baby with a cleft of the soft palate may need only one surgery, which usually is done between the ages of 1 and 2. It sometimes is postponed until the child is between ages 5 and 7 years.
• A baby with a cleft that involves both the hard and soft palates may need several surgeries, beginning at birth and continuing until he or she is between 10 and 13 years of age.
• A baby who has cleft palate and other facial birth defects, including cleft lip, may need several surgeries, may have more complications, and may need additional treatment.

After surgery

After surgery to correct cleft palate, antibiotics are usually given for about 5 days.

Your baby's arm movements may be restricted with splints or other material for as long as 3 weeks. This measure is sometimes needed to prevent your baby from touching and damaging the stitches.

Babies with cleft palate have problems sucking and swallowing, so feeding can be challenging. Watch for signs of dehydration, which can develop if your baby is not getting enough breast milk or formula. Bottle-feeding is usually more successful than breast-feeding. Some mothers bottle-feed pumped breast milk. After surgery to repair a cleft palate, sucking often feels different to babies, and they must relearn proper techniques. During the adjustment period, your health professional can recommend strategies to help you make sure your baby gets enough nourishment.

Although surgery often leaves slight scars, usually the palate heals well after surgery, with very little evidence of the cleft. A child's facial bones typically grow normally, and the child speaks more clearly.

Other surgeries may be needed to correct the scars. Additional treatment for speech, teeth, and hearing loss, and emotional counseling may also be needed. Some children need to have ear tubes inserted surgically to help prevent ear infections.

Speech therapy may be needed as your baby grows and begins to talk. Speech therapy may continue through childhood. If additional surgeries are performed when your child is older, speech therapy may be reintroduced or adapted to meet new challenges.

Your child's doctor or a health care team will tell you how to care for your newborn if he or she was born with cleft palate. In general, you need to pay special attention to:

• Feeding. Babies with cleft palate have problems sucking and swallowing, so feeding can be challenging. Watch for signs of dehydration, which can develop if your baby is not getting enough breast milk or formula. Bottle-feeding is usually more successful than breast-feeding. Some mothers use pumped breast milk to bottle-feed their babies. After surgery to repair a cleft palate, sucking often feels different to babies, and they must relearn proper techniques. During the adjustment period, your health professional can recommend strategies to help you make sure your baby gets enough nourishment.
• Infection. After surgery, antibiotic medicine is usually given for about 5 days to reduce the risk for infection. Look for signs of infection, such as a fever or decreased energy level. Make sure your baby drinks adequate fluids, which helps prevent infection and promote healing.

Caring for a child with a birth defect takes a lot of time, patience, and energy. It's easy to ignore your own needs as you care for your child. Consider these suggestions for parents of children with cleft palate or cleft lip.

As your child grows, pay attention to:

• Dental care. Children with cleft palate need to establish good dental habits early in life. Talk with your child about the possible need for braces. This may relieve some of your child's fears about permanent problems with uneven teeth. If possible, have a pediatric (children's) dentist take responsibility for the overall dental care of the child with cleft palate.
• Hearing. Babies with cleft palate need to have their hearing tested by the time they are 3 months old. In some cases, babies born with cleft palate need ear tubes surgically inserted to help the middle ear function properly and to restore hearing, reduce pain, and prevent chronic middle ear infections and future hearing problems. Ear tubes are made of hollow plastic and require special care.

Preventing cleft palate

Experts are still trying to find answers about why some babies are born with cleft palate. Although sometimes cleft palate is passed down through families (inherited), in most cases the cause is not known. Research continues on how genes and a mother's health—what she eats and drinks and hazards she is exposed to during pregnancy—can result in the fetus developing cleft palate. For example, a mother who smokes or drinks alcohol during pregnancy may increase the risk that her baby will be born with cleft palate.³

Take good care of yourself before and during pregnancy so that your baby will be as healthy as possible. You can do some things to help prevent your fetus from developing cleft lip or cleft palate, such as taking prenatal vitamins. Also, do not smoke or drink alcohol while you are pregnant.

What to think about

If your child is born with cleft palate, it is normal to have a concerns and feelings including anger, fear, guilt, depression, or denial. You may find it helpful to talk with your child's doctor or see a counselor. Also, you may find a support group helpful. Support groups help you to interact with other parents who have babies with cleft palate.

Fortunately, cleft palate is correctable with surgery, and scarring is usually minimal. The most difficult period will likely be the first weeks or months before and during surgery. You may wonder how your friends, relatives, other children, and even strangers will react to your baby's appearance. Try to focus on developing a bond with your baby. The rest will fall into place over time.

Talk to your other children about your baby's cleft palate. Emphasize that no one is responsible, that it does not hurt, and that it can be corrected with surgery.

As your child grows, consider explaining how clefts develop. Help your child understand that being born with a cleft palate has been a part of making him or her strong and special. Teach your child how to answer questions from peers and adults about his or her appearance. You can help minimize concerns or self-consciousness by helping your child understand and accept the condition as one of many life experiences.

Organizations

• Alcohol Effects on a Fetus
• Birth Defects Testing
• Bottle-Feeding
• Breast-Feeding
• Cleft Lip
• Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures
• Pregnancy
• Tongue-Tie

Citations

1. Kirschner RE, LaRossa D (2000). Cleft lip and cleft palate. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 33(6): 1191–1215.

2. Cunningham M (2003). Cleft lip and cleft palate section of Birth defects, malformations, syndromes. In CD Rudolph, AM Rudolph, eds., Rudolph's Pediatrics, 21st ed., pp. 748–753. New York: McGraw-Hill.

3. Lorente C, et al. (2000). Tobacco and alcohol risk during pregnancy and risk of oral clefts. Occupational Exposure and Congenital Malformation Working Group. American Journal of Public Health, 90(3): 415–419.

Other Works Consulted

• Beers MH, et al., eds. (2006). Craniofacial abnormalities. Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 18th ed., pp. 2422–2424. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.

• Edwards SP, et al. (2007). Cleft lip and palate. In DM Laskin, AO Abubaker, eds., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, pp. 135–151. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing.

• Glenny AM, et al. (2007). Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate, or cleft lip and palate. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2).

• Hoffman WY (2008). Cleft lip and palate. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, section 6, pp. 323–339. New York: McGraw-Hill.

• Mueller WA (2007). Oral medicine and dentistry. In WW Hay et al., eds., Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment, 18th ed., chap. 16, pp. 449–458. New York: McGraw-Hill.

• Wolfe SA, et al. (2006). Surgical treatment of clefts of the lip and palate from birth to age ten. In S Berkowitz, ed., Cleft Lip and Palate: Diagnosis and Management, 2nd ed., chap. 22, pp. 459–475. Berlin: Springer.

Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: February 4, 2008
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.