Cleft Lip and Palate

Question 1

What is a cleft and what is the prevalence?

Answer 1

Gap/split present from birth
A baby’s face did not join properly during womb development
1 in 700 (UK)

Question 2

When do lips and palate form?

Answer 2

Lips - 5-7 weeks
Palate - 6-9 weeks

Question 3

How do you diagnose cleft lip and palate?

Answer 3

Lip - mid pregnancy anomaly scan
Palate - usually undiagnosed until birth

Question 4

When can a person receive cleft lip and palate surgery?

Answer 4

Lip - 3-6 months
Palate - 6-12 months

Question 5

What are the different types of cleft lip and palate? x3

Answer 5

1. Unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP)
2. Bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP)
3. Isolated cleft palate (CP)
4. Submucous cleft palate (SMCP)

Question 6

What is a submucous cleft palate?

Answer 6

Muscles in the palate have not joined together properly but the membrane (mucousa) has grown over the top
Difficult to spot

Question 7

What impact does CLP have on speech?

Answer 7

Hypernasal resonance
Backing
Articulation difficulties

Question 8

What impact does CLP have on language?

Answer 8

Onset of talking can be delayed
Vocabulary may be smaller

Question 9

What impact does CLP have on feeding?

Answer 9

Unrepaired CLP makes it difficult for babies to create adequate pressure to suck
May lead to nasal regurgitation

Question 10

What is a bifid uvula?

Answer 10

Uvula that is split in two
May be related to submucous cleft palate

Question 11

What is zona pellucida?

Answer 11

Midline translucency in the palate
May be related to submucous cleft palate