Department of Otolaryngology
Conditions We Treat
Cleft Palate
What is a Cleft Palate?
A cleft palate or a cleft lip/palate are birth defects where
the lip and/or palate do not fully close during early pregnancy,
and varies widely in severity. A cleft lip can appear as a
simple notch in a child's upper lip, or the opening can extend
from the lip to the base of the nostrils.
Causes of Cleft Palate
In normal development, the formation of a baby's lip will close
by about 5 to 6 weeks after conception, and the palate will
close at about 10 weeks after conception. In babies with various
genetic conditions or possibly environmental situations, the
lip and/or palate do not fully close. The defects can result
in a cleft (separated) lip/palate or an isolated cleft palate.
A cleft lip/palate occurs more often than the isolated cleft
palate.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for these birth defects include:
-
Race - Cleft lip/palate occurs more frequently
among Asians and some groups of Native Americans. Risk for
isolated cleft palate appears similar in all racial groups.
- Gender - Cleft lip/palate occurs more frequently
in males, but isolated cleft palate occurs more frequently in
females.
- Genetics - There are numerous genetic conditions
where indicators include cleft lip/palate or cleft palate.
- Smoking - Some studies have shown a link between
maternal smoking and development of these birth defects.
- Medication - Some drugs such as antiseizure
medications could contribute to this birth defect.
- Mother's health - Maternal illness or infection
may be linked,as well as a deficiency of folic acid.
- Drug and alcohol abuse - Studies also suggest
a link between maternal drug and alcohol use and the occurrence
of cleft lip
and/or palate.
Preventing Birth Defects
Although the exact cause of a cleft palate or cleft lip/palate
is unknown, we do know that there are things women can
do to help prevent birth defects in their unborn children,
including:
-
Take a daily multivitamin containing folic
acid prior to conception and during pregnancy (especially
the first trimester)
- Stop smoking
- Avoid alcohol prior to and during pregnancy
- Check with your doctor prior
to becoming pregnant that any medications that
you're taking are safe to take during pregnancy
Learn more about the affects of cleft palate and treatment options.
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