Diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment are offered for children with special problems of the ears, mouth, nose, throat and sinus. Tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies and myringotomies are performed as indicated. Hearing evaluation is available through duPont's Department of Communicative Disorders which works closely with the Division of Otolaryngology. Specialists from the duPont Hospital for Children are members of the Cleft Palate Craniofacial Team which provides evaluation and treatment of cleft palate. Palate Cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip which occurs in the middle or on one or both sides of the mouth.
Cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth either in the midline or on one or both sides.
These openings are present during the early part of the fetal growth in all babies but usually closes several months before birth. In some children, the cleft is only in the lip. In some, only the palate is effected. In others, both the lip and the palate are effected. The cleft lip is closed by the plastic surgeon when the baby is about 3 months old.