What kinds of problems can my baby with a cleft palate have?

Development, feeding: Unlike the isolated cleft lip, a child with a cleft palate (with or without a cleft lip)can have problems with feeding, hearing, speech and tooth/jaw development. A minority of cleft palate infants with a small lower jaw may also have breathing problems. A nurse specialist in cleft care should assist mother in developing a satisfactory feeing program for her infant shortly after birth.

Feeding problems: Cleft may cause problems with feeding, ear disease, speech and socialization. Due to lack of suction, an infant with a cleft may have trouble feeding. An infant with a cleft palate will have greater success feeding in a more upright position. Individuals with cleft also face many middle ear infections which can eventually lead to total hearing loss.

Feeding, speech, mom: Infants with cleft are more prone to wind and take longer to feed. Both abnormal feeding pattern and the physical defect can affect oral motor and oro-sensory development. Other problems are delayed and deviant pre-speech development, osteitis meda (result in hearing loss), delayed language skill. Parent-child interaction is affected psychologically as parent underrated the child potential.