The skills of many health care professionals are needed in the correcting of cleft abnormalities. Corrective surgery and a complete team approach are required to help with the multiple complications that may occur.
The following are some members of the team:
- Plastic/craniofacial surgeon
- Pediatrician
- Speech and language specialist
- Audiologist(hearing specialist)
- Genetic counselor
- Nurse team coordinator
- Social worker
Surgery to correct the cleft lip and palate will occur in stages.
When deciding the type of surgery needed to repair the cleft, the doctor considers a variety of factors. These factors relate to the classification of the cleft and the baby's overall condition.
Such considerations include:
- Whether the cleft is complete or incomplete.( a complete cleft lip is a deep split in the upper lip that extends into one or both sides of the nose. An incomplete cleft affects only one side of the upper lip and may appear as a slight indention or as a deep notch.)
- How much of the lip is involved. A cleft lip can affect one side of the upper lip (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral).
- The size and health of the baby.
The baby is always treated with pre-surgery supports (such as special dental splints, soft palate molding inserts, or simple medical adhesive tape).
Surgery begins with the lip repair, when the baby is 3 months old.
Sometimes flaps of skin and muscle will need to be moved to the lip in order to bridge the gap.
The palate will be repaired later once the baby's facial structures have grown bigger in order to be able to successfully pull the tissues together.
Some difficulties of living with cleft lip and palate include:
- Dental problems
- Ear infections and hearing loss
- Feeding difficulties
- Speech and language delay
There are unlimited amounts of resources that offer fact sheets, support groups, newsletters, FAQ (frequently asked questions) about cleft, information on where and how to find a doctor etc.
Here are a few websites to get you started:
Children and families may also benefit from counseling, to support the child's self-esteem and help with developing self confidence and independence.
