Cleft Palate

Cleft lip or palate, otherwise known as orofacial defects, occur when the tissue in an infant’s lip or palate does not join together completely before birth, leaving a gap where the tissue should have closed. There is no known cause of cleft lip or palate. However, if the mother smokes, is diabetic, or takes medicine for epilepsy, there is a higher likelihood of the infant having cleft lip or palate. Both conditions can cause difficulty in the child’s eating, breathing and speaking, and can also increase the likelihood of ear infections. Cleft lip and palate are both treatable conditions through surgery. Some cases may require multiple surgeries.¹ Worldwide, there is a case of cleft lip, palate, cleft lip and palate or limited cleft palate for 1 in every 700 births.²