Can cleft palate be corrected?

Can cleft palate be corrected?

Having a baby born with a cleft can be upsetting, but cleft lip and cleft palate can be corrected. In most babies, a series of surgeries can restore normal function and achieve a more normal appearance with minimal scarring.

Can cleft palate be healed before birth?

Cleft palate can cause serious complications, including difficulty eating and learning to speak. However, close regulation of important signaling molecules during palate formation may one day allow doctors to reverse a cleft palate before the baby is even born, Chai said.

Can you grow out of a cleft palate?

The majority of children treated for cleft lip or palate grow up to have completely normal lives. Most affected children will not have any other serious medical problems and treatment can usually improve the appearance of the face and problems with feeding and speech.

How successful is cleft palate surgery?

Most kids with cleft lip and palate are treated successfully with no lasting problems. A team experienced in treating children with cleft lip and palate can create a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs. The psychologists and social workers on the treatment team are there for you and your child.

At what age is cleft palate repair?

Most times, cleft palate repair is done when the child is older, between 9 months and 1 year old. This allows the palate to change as the baby grows. Doing the repair when the child is this age will help prevent further speech problems as the child develops.

How much does it cost to repair a cleft palate?

Typical costs: Without health insurance, cleft lip and/or palate surgery typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 or more per surgery; if the child has both a cleft lip and a cleft palate, two surgeries typically are required for a total of $10,000 to $20,000.

What is the main cause of cleft palate?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.

Is cleft palate detected in an ultrasound?

Most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are noticed right away at birth and don’t require special tests for diagnosis. Increasingly, cleft lip and cleft palate are seen on ultrasound before the baby is born.

Can cleft palate babies speak?

It is common for children born with cleft palate or with cleft lip and palate to have speech problems at some time in their lives. Over half of these children will need speech therapy; however, most will develop normal speech by age 5.

At what age do they repair a cleft palate?

Cleft palate repairs are usually done between the ages of 9 to 18 months, but before the age of 2. This is a more complicated surgery and is done when the baby is bigger and better able to tolerate the surgery. The exact timing of the surgery will be decided by your child’s physician.

How much does a cleft palate surgery cost?

Is cleft surgery painful?

Pain and Medicines Some pain is normal after palate repair. Your surgeon and medical team will work together to achieve the best pain control possible, but your child may still experience discomfort.

What are the treatment options for a cleft lip or palate?

Children with a cleft lip or palate will need several treatments and assessments as they grow up. A cleft is usually treated with surgery. Other treatments, such as speech therapy and dental care, may also be needed.

How can I improve my hearing after cleft palate surgery?

Hearing problems may improve after cleft palate repair and, if necessary, can be treated by inserting tiny plastic tubes called grommets into the eardrums. These allow the fluid to drain from the ear. Sometimes, hearing aids may be recommended. Read more about treating glue ear.

How old do you have to be to repair a cleft palate?

This operation is called an alveolar bone graft, and is usually performed when the child is 8 to 10 years old. How is a cleft palate usually repaired? A plastic surgeon brings together the separated muscles and tissue from the two halves of the palate to close the opening.

How long does it take for a palate repair to close?

The wound is closed with dissolvable stitches. The operation usually takes about 2 hours and is done using a general anaesthetic. Most children are in hospital for 1 to 3 days, and again arrangements may be made for you to stay with them. The scar from palate repair will be inside the mouth.