Cleft palate surgery will repair the palate, with the goal of achieving understandable speech. Cleft palate can cause serious complications, including difficulty eating and learning to speak. It is important to correct the cleft early in a child’s life, usually between 6 and 18 months of age, but sometimes later. This age appears to be advantageous partially because healing times are fast, the patient’s memory of the recovery process is short, and the area around the cleft hasn’t had much of a chance to develop surrounding tissues in an abnormal manner. Also important is that this period of time precedes any significant language development. In fact, if the surgery is put off until much later than 3 years of age, development of speech skills may suffer. It is also conceivable that the young child who is unhindered by this defect may find it easier and more natural to develop normal and healthy nutritional habits at this early age.
What age do you repair cleft palate?
It is important to correct the cleft early in a child’s life, usually between 6 and 18 months of age, but sometimes later. Cleft palate surgery will repair the palate, with the goal of achieving understandable speech
Is cleft palate surgery dangerous?
There are risks of problems after any operation. Cleft palate repair, or palatoplasty, is an effective and reliable operation in a large majority of children, but there are two main risks. The first is the risk of fistula, or a hole in the repaired palate.
What problems can result from a cleft palate?
While most babies with cleft lip can breast-feed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult. Ear infections and hearing loss. Babies with cleft palate are especially at risk of developing middle ear fluid and hearing loss. Dental problems
Can cleft palate cause death?
The overall mortality rate was 36 per 1000 cleft births. A total of 21 deaths were in the isolated cleft palate group, with a calculated death rate of 68.1 per 1000. … The causes of death were mainly due to associated congenital anomalies (61%) and infection (17%).
What can you eat after cleft palate surgery?
It is OK to resume full liquids 2-3 days after surgery. This includes yogurt, thin cooked cereals, puddings, ice cream, creamed soups, thin pureed foods, or stage I baby foods. Use only a soft spoon and do not allow the spoon to enter deep into the mouth.
Can adults have cleft palate surgery?
Cleft treatment for adults. Adults born with a cleft lip and/or palate may require ongoing treatment despite having undergone surgery as children, teenagers and young adults. … Such treatment can serve a functional and/or cosmetic purpose e.g. orthognathic surgery (jaw alignment) and rhinoplasty (nose surgery).
Is having a cleft lip a disability?
A cleft palate occurs when the tissue at the roof of the mouth doesn’t fuse completely during pregnancy. … But they found that infants born with cleft palate alone had a slightly increased risk of dying early and of having conditions such as intellectual disability, autism and severe learning disabilities
Does insurance cover cleft palate surgery?
Your health insurance plan will likely cover cleft surgery because it is a reconstructive procedure. … Coverage varies among insurers including pre-certification requirements, inpatient stay allowances and coverage for secondary procedures and allied health care services such as speech therapy
Does Medicaid cover cleft palate?
In the U.S., cleft lip repair is usually covered by private insurance or as part of a state or federal program, such as Medicaid. Other programs can also help pay for surgery and related expenses. Talk with your social worker about any financial concerns you have about the care of your child.
Is cleft palate surgery painful?
Your child may need pain medicine for the first few days after surgery. The area around your child’s mouth may be swollen for the first 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. He or she may be more fussy than usual.
