Cleft Palate

Girl-with-cured-cleft-lip5-300x225The Myths Surrouding Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and palate are facial malformations which occur when a baby’s mouth does not form properly during pregnancy. Each year, more than 170,000 babies in the developing world are born with the condition.

Despite the large number of children who are affected by cleft lip and palate on a global scale, there are unfortunately still many myths surrounding the condition, leading to much confusion about the effect it can have, and the ways in which it can be treated.

Susannah Schaefer, CEO of international children’s charity Smile Train dispels some of the most common myths concerning the condition.

MYTH Cleft lip and palate is purely a cosmetic concern

Many people consider a cleft to be only a cosmetic condition. However, this is not the case, as it is also a health and survival issue. Babies born with cleft lip and/or palate will often struggle with eating, breathing and speech development. Cleft surgery, and related cleft treatment, is therefore extremely important for the child to take in the required nutrition they need, for proper speech development, and to help alleviate issues with breathing.

FACT A cleft lip is different from a cleft palate

A cleft lip occurs when the lip does not fuse together properly during foetal development. A cleft palate is a hole or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth (which is made up of both the hard and soft palate) does not fuse together properly.

MYTH Surgery cannot help

Reconstructive surgery for clefts has evolved over more than half a century and modern techniques and procedures have come a long way. Most experts agree that cleft lips should generally be repaired three to six months after birth. Cleft palates can typically be repaired between nine and 18 months of age. However, most surgeries at even later ages are expected to be successful.

MYTH Children with clefts have learning difficulties

Many people may regard children born with clefts as having a disability, usually because of the associated speech or hearing difficulties however, this is often not the case. Although there are facial conditions that are associated with learning difficulties, many children born with clefts can expect achievement to be the same as their peers born without clefts.

MYTH Only children in the developing world are born with clefts

Babies are born with clefts all over the world. It is estimated that more than 170,000 new babies with clefts are born in the developing world each year. Typically, in developed countries, a child’s cleft will be repaired soon after birth but in the developing world many children with clefts are not as fortunate. Families in the developing world often do not have access to quality healthcare services or the resources to pay for proper cleft treatment.

Smiletrain

Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem – cleft lip and palate. Millions of children in developing countries with unrepaired clefts live in shame but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is simple and the transformation is immediate. Our sustainable model provides training and funding to empower local doctors in over 85 developing countries to provide 100% free cleft repair surgery in their communities. Learn how our sustainable approach means your donation has both an immediate and long-term impact at smiletrain.org.uk.

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