The device provides supplemental nutrition through a tube that is held next to the nipple during breast feeding. If your baby has only a cleft lip, your baby should not have any big problems in learning to talk. If your baby has a cleft palate, your baby may take a little longer than usual to learn to talk. Children with clefts have ear infections more often than other children. The cleft allows fluid and germs to enter your child's ear more easily than normal.
Many children require a special kind of surgery by an ear, nose and throat doctor.
Tubes are put in the eardrum to drain fluid and stop some infections. All children with clefts need to have their ears checked regularly by their doctor. Your child will also need to see a dentist often, because children with clefts tend to have more cavities and other dental problems than other children. Fluoride treatment, toothbrushing and careful dental care will be a big help. You are naturally worried about your child's social growth.