Cleft Lip and Palate in Infants: Causes and Treatment

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/03/17 - Updated: 2026/06/14
Publication Type: Informative

Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications

Synopsis: This information outlines how cleft lip and cleft palate form in infants, why these defects occur during the first trimester of pregnancy, and the staged medical care used to correct them. It is useful for parents, families, and caregivers because it explains in plain terms what the condition involves, how feeding and speech are affected, and what to expect from surgery and follow-up treatment. By describing the roles of the various specialists involved and noting that the condition is highly treatable, the article helps reduce worry for new parents and offers a clear, factual reference point for anyone supporting a child born with an orofacial cleft.

At a Glance

• 1 - Correcting a cleft requires a team of specialists, and treatment often includes an orthodontist for tooth alignment and a speech pathologist for any speaking difficulties.
• 2 - Timing of surgery differs by defect - cleft lip repair may happen from a few days to a few months old, while cleft palate surgery is usually performed around age two.
• 3 - A family history of the defect appears to raise the likelihood that a child will be born with the condition, and certain chemicals or medications are believed to be possible factors.

Topic Definition: Cleft Lip and Palate

A cleft lip is a split running through the center of the upper lip that may extend up into the nostril, while a cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth that can involve the soft tissue, the hard tissue, or the entire palate. A child may be born with one defect or a combination of both. The condition develops early in pregnancy, during the first trimester, when the facial structures fail to join completely, and it can affect an infant's ability to feed and, later, to speak. Although the exact cause is not fully understood, it is corrected through surgery and ongoing specialist care.

Introduction

A cleft lip is a split that runs through the center of the lip and may extend into the nostril. A cleft palate may separate the soft and hard muscular tissues and /or the entire roof of the mouth. A child may be born with either defect or a combination. The cause is not completely understood although it is believed that certain chemicals or medications may be a factor.

Main Content

There seems to be an increased likelihood that a child may be born with the condition if a family member was also born with such a defect. The deformity occurs early on in the pregnancy during the first trimester. This condition can be very traumatic for the parents as well as the child. Special feeding devices are needed since the cleft deformity affects the child's ability to suck properly. Luckily the deformity can be corrected with surgery.

In the past when corrective surgery was not an option, cleft lip was even more devastating because children had no choice except to go through life with their deformity. The simple acts of eating and talking were challenges for children afflicted by this condition. They suffered emotionally as well because they were considered to be different and not easily accepted by other children. Thankfully now the condition can be corrected and children no longer need to suffer throughout their lives due to such a deformity. Even so, cleft lip and/or palate still requires quite a bit of medical care.

Correction of cleft lip and cleft palate requires a team of specialists and continued care following the surgery. Depending on the surgeon's assessment of the condition and what is in the best interest of the child, surgery for cleft lip may be performed when the child is anywhere from a few days to a few months old. Surgery to correct a cleft palate is usually done around the age of two. But the road to recovery does not end with surgery.

Quick Facts

• Children with this condition normally require more than one surgery to correct the defect and the child's progress needs to be monitored.
• Children with this condition usually require the services of an orthodontist to ensure proper alignment and growth of the teeth.
• The care of a speech pathologist may also be enlisted since there may be difficulty with speaking.
• Speech classes may be necessary in order to ensure that the child's speech develops properly.
• Children who are older when treatment to correct the cleft defect begins may also be counseled by a psychologist who can help them with any emotional stress that may have resulted from their condition.
• Cleft lip and/or palate no longer has to be a lifelong condition thanks to skillful surgery.

Where this condition used to be a fairly traumatic experience for parents and children alike, children can now lead a normal life without feeling that they are different. They no longer have to carry the emotional stigma that can be caused by the condition of cleft lip or palate.

Also see our list of Famous People With a Cleft

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.