The cleft palate is a birth defect that affects approximately 2,600 babies every year, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. For some reason, the roof of the mouth does not form properly, and the tissue does not join as it should. The cleft palate does not need any the testing to diagnose because it is visually apparent. People can easily see the split in the roof of the mouth. During pregnancy, the ultrasound testing can reveal a cleft palate. Usually, the obstetrician will want to perform additional tests to make sure that the baby does not have any other birth defects. The ultrasound can reveal the cleft palate at about 20 weeks of pregnancy and sometimes even way before.
The cause of cleft palate is still unknown. Researchers are still trying to find out the exact cause. Genetics may play a role in the cleft palate development. Other factors such as the mother’s lifestyle during pregnancy or the environment may have something to do with the development. Some medications might cause cleft palate if the mother has to take them during pregnancy. Diabetic women may also have a high tendency to give birth to a child with a cleft palate.
Several options are available for treatment of the cleft palate. Treatment choices will depend on the severity of the cleft palate and symptoms that the child suffers. Surgery is one option, and it has the best chance of succeeding if the doctors perform it within the first 12 months of the child’s life. Treatments are also available for the various complications of the cleft palate. The following list talks about some of the most common complications or side effects of the cleft palate. There are six of them in the list to be exact. Each one has a brief description of the solution that can help with that particular side effect.
1. Speech Disorder
Speech problems are the main issues that occur because of the cleft palate. They happen because the tissue does not join and cover the teeth and the top of the mouth the way it’s supposed to. The cleft palate may also affect parts of the nose, as well. The imperfection in the facial structure in those areas causes distortions in speech. One of the most common speech distortions is a nasally sound. When the child speaks, he may sound as if he’s talking through his nose. The appropriate term for that sound is a hypernasal sound. It occurs because the pallet is unable to stop air from exiting the nose or leaking out. The affected person may also have problems pronouncing certain words and sounds.
S sounds may be difficult to make. A person may also have trouble with the R sound. Additional problems may arise if the teeth do not line up as they’re supposed to. Many people with cleft palate try to resolve these issues with speech therapy. A specialist can work with a person to help him improve his pronunciations. It’s best to start speech therapy as soon as possible, like before the age of five. That will give the young person the best chance of overcoming the speech problems as much as possible. It will take a lot of dedicated practice, but the speech issues can be overcome a great deal.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Difficulty Feeding
Difficulty feeding also arises in babies that have palate malformation because they cannot create that airtight closing that they needed to create when they are trying to suck on a bottle or the mother’s breast. The mother can try to resolve the situation by using her hand to cover up the hole. Manufacturers also sell a variety of bottles that they created specifically for babies that had a cleft palate. With a little work, the mother and child can make it happen. Babies with severe cases may have to receive their nourishment using an alternative method until they receive their reparative surgery.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Hearing Loss
Hearing loss and problems are common in children with palate problems. The most common type of hearing problem is a condition called glue ear. The cleft palate makes it difficult for sound to pass through the outer and middle ear to where it needs to go into the inner ear. That causes a hearing problem. Many children grow out of condition within their first eight years. Some people need to use a grommet, special technology such as hearing aids or something else. Ear infections are also common in children that have cleft palates. Parents must stay alert and increase the efforts to prevent such infections from manifesting.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Mouth Breathing Difficulty
Mouth breathing difficulty can occur in someone with palate issues, as well. This happens because, again, the split in the tissue leaves an opening. The mouth breathing can cause a host of other problems such as dry mouth and bad breath. The only thing an individual can do in this scenario is to try to cover up the exposed area with a hand to cut down the difficulty a bit. It’s a problem that is going to be difficult to resolve before the surgery. Once the specialist performs the surgery, the child can close the mouth and breathe through the nose effectively.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion is a side effect of many sufferers. Nasal congestion often occurs within babies with cleft palates. This occurs because of the way the tissue presents itself. Some devices can help with the congestion. Otherwise, the best solution for this situation is the restorative surgery. Surgery is supposed to join the parts above the mouth that never joined. It improves breathing because of the removal of most of the obstruction. Speech, confidence and sociability will increase because of what the surgeon does to help.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Snoring
Snoring is another situation that occurs in a person who has a palate abnormalcy. It goes hand-in-hand with the mouth breathing. The snoring may be loud and disruptive enough to deprive the parents of a good night’s sleep. Symptom management solutions may include the use of CPAP masks and/or headgear. The CPAP mask and headgear can help to close the openings and improve the quality of the child’s life. Specialists can help come up with an effective strategy that will maximize or minimize the snoring so that everyone can enjoy their lives.
Those are just a few of the side effects of the palate problems that can affect the person’s life. Children with cleft palates do have a chance of living normal and happy lives, however. The parents must take action as quickly as possible to receive favorable results. Only then will the child have a better chance of beating the odds.
