There are two types of cleft lip:
- unilateral cleft, where the cleft occurs on one side of the lip
- bilateral cleft, where the cleft occurs on both sides of the lip
The appearance of the cleft can be anything from a small notch in the lip (incomplete cleft) to a wide gap that runs all the way up to the nostril (complete cleft lip).
The appearance of a cleft palate can be anything from an opening at the back of the soft palate towards the throat to an almost complete separation of the roof of the mouth.
As well as affecting appearance, a cleft lip and palate can also cause a number of associated symptoms, which are outlined below.
Feeding problems
Babies with a cleft may have problems feeding, particularly if the cleft includes the palate because the baby may not be able to suck adequately. However, with assistance and sometimes the use of a special feeding bottle, feeding can usually be quickly established.
Ear infections and hearing impairments
Children with a cleft palate often develop a condition called glue ear, where sticky fluid collects in the middle ear behind the eardrum. This may reduce the level of hearing and can sometimes cause ear infections. Therefore, it is important that all children with a cleft palate have their ears and hearing checked regularly.
See the Health A-Z topic about Glue ear for more information.
Speech and language problems
The palate plays an important role in helping your child form normal sounds for speech.
If a cleft palate is not repaired with surgery, it will lead to speech problems when the child is older. Therefore, the cleft palate is carefully repaired before speech development so that, in many cases, the child goes on to develop normal speech.
About half of all children with a repaired cleft palate will need to have speech therapy, and a small number may need further surgery. Over time, a specialist speech and language therapist will monitor the child’s speech development.
Dental health
A cleft lip and palate can cause changes to the structure of the mouth and lead to problems with the development of teeth, making children more vulnerable to tooth decay. It is therefore important for the child to have their teeth checked and closely monitored regularly.
Psychological issues
A cleft lip or palate can have a psychological impact on both the child and their parents. For example, the parents may feel guilty or angry. Psychological support and counselling may sometimes be required. See Cleft lip and palate - complications for more information.
