The process of clefting occurs between seven and twelve weeks of development in the womb. All of us go through similar stages of facial development whereby in the early stages both the upper lip and the roof of the mouth are in separate pieces. With time these pieces fuse. However, in babies born with cleft palate, the temporary separations have persisted. We do not understand why this process happens.
Clefts can run in families.
Because of this, a genetics specialist may evaluate your child for possible risk factors and provide counseling regarding the risk of you having another child with a cleft. Because of the midline opening in the roof of the mouth, babies with cleft palate are often unable to build up and sustain proper oral pressure. This affects both feeding and development of normal speech. Also, the presence of the cleft may effect the hearing of your child and the way in which the teeth develop. For these reasons, babies with cleft palate are evaluated by our speech therapist, hearing specialist, dentist, and our feeding specialist.