Conditions
Cleft Palate
About one in 700 babies born in the UK have a cleft palate (also called a ‘hairlip’), a cleft lip, or both. Cleft palate means there is a split in the roof of the mouth. Cleft lip refers to a split in the upper lip. The condition isn’t harmful, but it can alarming for new mums and dads.
Cleft lips and palates can be the result of a number of factors, including genetic, but it is thought that if mums-to-be smoke or drink excessively during pregnancy, don’t get enough folic acid or take certain medicines, the chances are increased. The condition itself means that during development, the tissues in the lip or mouth don’t join up. In the case of a cleft lip, the gap will be between the upper lip and the nose. In the case of a cleft palate, the gap is in the roof of the mouth.
Sometimes a cleft palate will be spotted during your 18-20 week scan, in which case you’ll be put in touch with a specialist before birth, but a cleft lip won’t be apparent until the baby actually arrives. Cleft lip can also make breast feeding tricky and, later on, have an impact on speech, hearing and dental development.
If your baby is born with cleft lip or palate, you’ll need to be put in touch with a team of specialists who can monitor the condition as your baby grows. An operation at around three months can help repair cleft lip, and surgery in the first year can treat a cleft palate. After that it’ll depend on how severe the cleft is. For some kids with cleft palate, a bone graft at the age of 8 or 9 will help repair the jaw.
As children grow up and become more self-conscious, cleft palate can become more of an emotional issue. Even after surgery, it often remains apparent, but there are plenty of support groups around to help children come to terms with it. The Cleft Lip and Palate Association [http://www.clapa.com/] is a good place to start.
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Hi my name is jodie I was bon with a double cleft lip an pallet as well as a club foot, I've had numerous ops an still having them eventhough I'm 28 although i'm very pleased with my surgery to my lip an nose I still have a cleft on the roof of my mouth of which I've recently had done and failed as theres too much scaring of which i was upset about as i was hoping this would'av been my last an it still very much affects my speech an my confidence as i too was badly bullied as people wern't used to seeing people like me an can still be quite nasty espcially men of which i hate as i find it hard to date because people are so preoccupied with the way others look it's as if there affraid to date me just in case their bullied although its probably my confidence thats the big factor
Hi, just want to comment on the professional detail above of cleft lip and palate. Scans at 18-20 weeks "DO" actually pick up on cleft lip (as did with my unborn baby) and the palate can be seen via a 3D scan ONLY.
I would just like to add a positive note to the comments, that I was also born with a minor cleft lip but haven't ever let it get me down or stop me doing what I want in life. I was never bullied at school as most people just accepted that was me. Yeah people have asked me what happened to my lip in the past, before I got my operation, when it was more noticeable but they are just curious. It's not something I wanted to be born with but I have accepted it and know it's part of who I am. So don't let it get you down, there is plenty of help out there and also great people who want to give you their support.
I hoe there would be a program that help for the surgery of cleft palate coz I'm a cleft palate too.. Here in Philippines we don't have ortho to help us regarding this problem...
Hi i am 41 i was born with a cleft palate i hated school because of all the bullying i just want to be accepted as a person and grow up the same as my friends .As far back as i can remember, one op i had to wear a tube up one side of my nose to support my nostril to reconstruct it .Back in 2000 i had my jaw broken in 3 places to realine the jaw and it was screwed with titanium plates which my gums were suppose to grow over but they didnt , i went from 13 stone to 9 stone in 3 weeks .The only side effect i get is that i grind my teeth when im asleep but i dont relise im doing it .My last op i had was in 2004 where i had a skin graph to try and cover the hole in the roof of my mouth but that failed to so the only ever way they could do it was to stitch the tongue to the roof of my mouth but i was told it was 50/50 it would work so i didnt go ahead with it and i just didnt want any more pain after all the years of having numerous ops.Its not until 3 yrs ago i went to the doctors and found out i was suffering from depression due to my past .Todays society still dont understand or care about peoples feelings and i still think my cleft palate holds me back from getting a job .People should stop looking at the disfigurement and look at the person inside after all we are still human .I can honestly say frenchay and bath royal united hospital have been absolutely fantastic .
I am 21 I have a cleft palate.. I had alot of bullying in my primary school, however I have just finished university, where I made a lot of friends, and fitted in like I wasn't different. I've found, if You make it a problem for yourself, people will also make it a problem. Iv found it best to just be who I am rather than what I look like! I am about to finish my orthodontic work, and having a few new teeth next year! Its a long road, and it isnt easy, but if you let it, You will become even stronger than those around you!... For the young mothers with babies, I don't remember any of the treatment or operations I had before I was about 14 years old. So do what You feel is best for Your child, they will only thank You for it when they are my age. all the best. thanks EB for bringing this up! x
hey, my names katie and i have a cleft lip and palate, i have already had the bone graft but not the opperation on the jaw, so i have to have the opperation on the jaw done and the bone graft done again, its really hard looking at someone else knowing there going through what your going through, i just really hope the opperations are worth it and it will hopefully make me look better than i look now. Iv had loads of people call me nasty names though mostly boys, it does get to me, but then i think its not my fault i have a cleft lip and palate.
For support for anyone really struggling with their looks / speech I would strongly advise seeking your local cleft team. (look at the CLAPA website.) They would be able to put you in touch with Speech Therapy or surgeons. The NHS I'm sure can offer surgical options. Or talk to your GP. x best wishes x
Depending on the severity, most (if not all) people born with cleft palate will need speech therapy at some point in their lives. For more on this... http://www.home-speech-home.com/cleft-palate.html
hi everyone I am thirty one years old and I was born with a cleft lip and palate and I just wanted to show my upmost admiration for matilda going on the show and raising awarness. Like her i have been asked if I'd had an accident or if i'd had acid thrown in my face. Bravo for showing just how beautiful cleft lip and palate can look
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