Children with a cleft that affects their soft palate (the part towards the back of the throat) may have problems with speech that include sounding nasal. This is caused by the soft palate
not being able to properly close off the mouth from the nose
while speaking and therefore letting air escape through the nose.
Does a cleft palate affect speech?
Children born with cleft palate
may have a delay in the beginning of speech
and development of speech sounds. In addition, children with cleft palate may produce speech errors that are directly related to clefting.
How does a cleft palate affect language and communication?
Many children with cleft lip and/or palate develop
normal speech
with no need for help from the speech and language therapist. However, others may develop speech problems recognised by the speech and language therapist as being related to the cleft.
How can I improve my cleft palate speech?
- Establish correct articulation (placement, manner, and voicing) using articulation therapy techniques.
- Ensure there is good oral pressure during sound production.
- Establish new motor speech patterns that replace speech sound errors.
What problems does a cleft palate cause?
Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and can have
ear infections
. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth.
At what age is cleft palate repair?
Cleft palate repair: A cleft palate is commonly fixed
between 9 and 14 months of age
. If there is a separation in the gum line, it usually is repaired when a child is 8-10 years of age.
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 a cleft lip heal itself in the womb?
In utero cleft palate repair is technically
feasible and results in scarless healing
of the mucoperiosteum and velum. The present work represents the first in utero repair of a congenital cleft palate model in any species.
Will my baby have a cleft lip if I do?
If either you or your partner were born with a cleft lip or palate, your chance of having a baby with a cleft is also
around 2 to 8%
. The chances of another child being born with a cleft or of a parent passing the condition to their child can be higher in cases related to a genetic condition.
What sounds do children with cleft palate struggle with?
Compensatory misarticulations are speech problems that are unique to children with a cleft palate. These sounds can sound like the pause in the middle of the word,
“uh-oh” (a glottal stop)
. They can also sound like growling or “throat” sounds.
What happens if cleft palate is not treated?
Children with cleft palate are at increased risk of ear infections since they are more prone to fluid build-up in the middle ear. If left untreated, ear infections can
cause hearing loss
.
How does cleft palate affect a child’s development?
If left untreated, the child with a cleft lip and/or palate may have difficulties with:
Learning to talk, speech intelligibility and clarity
. Self esteem and confidence when they realise their skills do not match their peers. Bullying when others become more aware of the child’s difficulties.
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.
Who are more likely to have a cleft palate without cleft lip?
The chances of having a baby with a cleft palate (without a cleft lip) is thought to be 1 in every 3000 live births. It is more common in
Asian and Asian-American populations
and less common in Africans and African-Americans.
Does folic acid prevent cleft palate?
The researchers found that folic acid supplementation of
400 micrograms or more per day reduced the risk of isolated cleft lip
with or without cleft palate by one-third, but had no apparent effect on the risk of cleft palate alone.
How many surgeries does it take to fix a cleft palate?
A minimum of one surgery
is required to repair a cleft palate. The requirement for further surgeries depends on the patient’s progress. A separate surgery will be used to repair the lip; additional surgeries may be needed to make the lip appear normal or improve speech.
