07/31/2025
Let’s end the month by sharing some powerful facts about cleft lip and palate that highlight just how important awareness and access to care truly are:
* 1 in 700 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or palate worldwide.
* Clefts form during the first 6–12 weeks of pregnancy
* Cleft lip and/or palate occur when tissues in the baby’s face don’t fuse completely during early fetal development.
* Babies with clefts may struggle with feeding, speech, hearing, and dental issues—but with the right support, they thrive.
* Clefts can occur as part of a syndrome—or on their own. Most clefts are isolated, but some are linked to genetic syndromes and require coordinated care.
* Children with clefts often need multiple surgeries
* Many children require staged procedures—from lip repair, palate repair, and later bone grafting, to orthodontics, ear tubes, and rhinoplasty.
* Speech therapy is a key part of cleft care. Even after palate repair, some children may have velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) or nasal-sounding speech and benefit from early, consistent speech therapy.
* Early hearing checks are essential. Children with cleft palate are at high risk for ear infections and hearing loss due to Eustachian tube dysfunction.
* Cleft care requires a multidisciplinary team. Surgeons, nurses, speech therapists, dentists, orthodontists, audiologists, geneticists, and social workers all play vital roles.
At the Spokane Cleft Team, we’re proud to walk alongside our families from the very beginning—ensuring they receive comprehensive, compassionate care every step of the way.
Cleft Awareness Month may be ending, but our mission continues year-round.
