Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

Cleft Lip andPalate

What is it?

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

• ‘Cleft’ means ‘split’ or ‘separation’

• During pregnancy, parts of the face form separately and then join together. Sometimes they don’t join properly and the result is a ‘cleft’

• One in 700 babies are born with a cleft. In the UK, that’s three every day and over 1,000 every year, just like little Poppy here!

What is it?

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

• A ‘cleft lip’ is a split in the upper lip. It can be on one or both sides of the mouth, and can be a small notch or extend fully up into the nose and gum, which can change the shape of the face.

• A ‘cleft palate’ is a split in the roof of the mouth.

• A baby can be born with a cleft Lip or a cleft palate,or both a cleft lip AND palate.

Unilateral Cleft Lip Bilateral Cleft Lip

Famous people with a cleft include…

Tom BurkeActor

Joaquin PhoenixActor

TutankhamunEgyptian Pharaoh

Richard HawleySinger/Songwriter

Carmit BacharPussycat Doll

Jesse JacksonCivil Rights Activist

Why Does It Happen?

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

• It occurs in the first three months of pregnancy

• There is no single explanation

• Sometimes it is because the parents or other family members also have a cleft (genetic)

• A lot of the time it happens because of many different reasons all working together in a way that no one could predict

• There is no way to prevent it

How is it treated?

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

SURGERY

• Surgery is needed to close the gap in the lip and/or palate. This will usually take place before a baby’s first birthday!

• The operation to repair a cleft lip will normally be within the first 2-3 months.

• The operation to repair a cleft palate usually takes place between 6-12 months.

• More surgeries may be needed depending on the child and their cleft.

How is it treated?

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

Other Treatments Include:• Hearing aids or grommets to help with

hearing problems caused by a cleft palate.

• Speech therapy to help children pronounce certain sounds and speak more clearly once their cleft is repaired.

• Dental work and braces to help teeth grow properly.

• More surgery at 8-10 years old, as a teenager and even as an adult to help with teeth placement and facial growth.

Every cleft is unique!

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

What is ‘CLAPA?’

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)

The Cleft Lip and Palate Association is a charity set up in 1979 to help patients, families and health professionals work together to support people affected by cleft lip and palate.

Our vision is: “A society where having a cleft lip and/or palate is no barrier to achieving your desires and ambitions”

We believe that everyone affected by cleft lip and palate should get the best possible information, care and support throughout their lives.

What Does CLAPA Do?

Family support

Adult support & advice

Feeding equipment and info

Services for children & young people

Working with schools Training volunteers

Free weekend camps for kids

Thank You!

Registered Charity England & Wales (1108160) and Scotland (SC041034)