Cleft lip and palate Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, June 2009.
Answers to questions about cleft lip and palate
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- When will I find out if my baby has a cleft lip or palate?
- How can I help my child cope with teasing at school?
- Does having a cleft lip or palate mean my child will have learning difficulties?
When will I find out if my baby has a cleft lip or palate?
A cleft lip is usually (although not always), picked up on a routine ultrasound scan while you are pregnant, while a cleft palate is almost always diagnosed after birth.
Explanation
You will be offered a detailed ultrasound scan at 18-20 weeks of pregnancy, to check that your baby is developing normally. This is sometimes called an anomaly scan. This scan can usually pick up on certain structural abnormalities, such as spina bifida and cleft lip. Sometimes, however, cleft lips don't show up on a scan and aren't detected until birth.
Your ultrasound scan will also not be able to show if your baby has a cleft palate. A cleft palate is usually diagnosed at birth, but it may take longer if the cleft isn't very severe.
Finding out that your baby has a cleft lip can be a shock at first. However, being told in advance of your baby's birth can give you time to get used to what to expect, and a chance to talk to medical staff.
If a scan reveals that your baby has a cleft lip, you will be referred to a specialist cleft and lip palate team. This may be at a different hospital to the one where you are receiving the rest of your antenatal treatment. Someone from the team will arrange to see you before your baby is born, giving you a chance to ask any questions you may have.
Sources
- Simon C, Everitt H, and Kendrick T. Oxford handbook of general practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
- Greer I. Pregnancy - the inside guide. London: Collins, 2003:120-121
- Antenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and/or palate. Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA).www.clapa.com, accessed 10 February 2009
- Kasten EF, Schmidt SP, Zickler CF, et al. Team Care of the Patient with Cleft Lip and Palate. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 2008; 38(5):138-158.
How can I help my child cope with teasing at school?
Helping other children to understand your child's condition by providing simple explanations can greatly reduce the amount of teasing and name-calling.
Explanation
A child born with a cleft may be teased or bullied at school because he or she looks or sounds different. Children usually only react to the unknown out of fear and embarrassment, so it's best to deal with this by providing simple explanations of your child's condition.
Try to encourage your child to mix with other children from an early age, so that he or she can learn to handle different situations early on. Children are naturally curious and will often ask direct questions. Give your child a straightforward explanation about his or her condition that he or she can use when asked by friends.
Keep in touch with your child's teachers, and let them know about medical appointments and planned operations, so they can prepare in advance for any changes that are likely to be happening that may affect your child at school. Your child's teacher may also be able to help by explaining his/her condition to other classmates, perhaps at an opportunity when your child is away from school.
Sources
- Frequently asked questions. Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA). www.clapa.com, accessed 10 February 2009
Does having a cleft lip or palate mean my child will have learning difficulties?
In most children there is no direct link between a cleft lip or palate and mental function. However, it is possible that your child may experience some difficulties in school.
Explanation
In almost all cases, cleft lip and/or palate itself has no relation to mental function. Very occasionally, a child may have a cleft lip or palate in combination with other defects, which may include mental deficiency. The doctor will usually be able to recognise this at birth or in the first few months of life.
Most children with cleft lip and palate do not have the condition as part of a genetic syndrome, and so have as much chance as any other child of having other mental or physical problems.
It is possible, however, that the hearing and speech problems your child may have as a result of his/her cleft lip or palate may put him or her at a disadvantage in school.
Hearing problems may reduce your child's attention span and concentration in school, while problems with speech can affect his or her ability to communicate. These factors may hold your child back in class. Regular hearing checks and monitoring with a speech-and-language therapist can help to avoid this.
Sources
- Cleft lip and palate. GP Notebook. www.gpnotebook.co.uk, accessed 10 February 2009
- Frequently asked questions. Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA). www.clapa.com, accessed 10 February 2009
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: June 2009
Cleft lip and palate factsheet
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